Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Whalan (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Whalan. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Whalan is located in Fillmore County.
To see how the shape of Minnesota's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Fillmore County: Howard (IA), Winneshiek (IA), Houston, Mower, Olmsted & Winona.
Below are the counties that are near Whalan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Whalan:
- Fillmore County (The home county of Whalan)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Lanesboro
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Peterson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bratsberg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
- Rushford Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rushford Village is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushford Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- Preston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- South Rushford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- South Rushford is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rushford
- Rushford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Harmony
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Newburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Newburg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Carimona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Carimona is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carimona
- Canton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Yucatan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Riceford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Riceford is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceford
- Money Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- Houston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Spring Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Willington Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Willington Grove is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington Grove
- Caledonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bee is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Wilmington
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmington is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Eitzen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Eitzen is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eitzen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Hokah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mower County
- Racine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Dover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Eyota
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Predmore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Simpson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Viola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Stewartville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Winona County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Clyde
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Troy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Saratoga
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Wyattville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wyattville is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
- Utica
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lewiston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Saint Charles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wilson is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Stockton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
- Altura
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Elba
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Elba is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Goodview
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Goodview is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,127 people
- Allamakee County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Quandahl
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Quandahl is located in Allamakee County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quandahl
- Dorchester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Howard County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Florenceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Florenceville is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florenceville
- Forest City ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Forest City is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Cresco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lime Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Chester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Vernon Springs is located in Howard County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon Springs
- Winneshiek County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Hesper
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hesper is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesper
- Burr Oak
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Kendallville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Kendallville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendallville
- Bluffton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bluffton is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluffton
- Highlandville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Highlandville is located in Winneshiek County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlandville
- Decorah
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Buffalo County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Bluff Siding
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff Siding is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Siding
- Fountain City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Fountain City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 842 people
- Marshland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Marshland is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshland
- Trempealeau County (WI)
- Trempealeau
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Trempealeau is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trempealeau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,663 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Whalan, see our County-by-County Page for Whalan.
Cemeteries Near Whalan ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whalan.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Whalan - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Whalan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Lanesboro Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Holt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- North Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hungerholdt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Highland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- East Grace Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Grace Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Arendahl Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the east of Preston.
- The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery has also been known as:
- Southeast Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2548582 <3>
- Continue List (277 more) ...
- Wisel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Prairie Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Carrolton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Whalan had a population of 98 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Whalan had a population of 66 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Whalan, with the one closest to Whalan listed first.
- Lanesboro
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Highland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Highland is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Peterson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Isinours
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Isinours is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isinours
- Arendahl
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Arendahl is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arendahl
- Bratsberg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
- Preston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Amherst is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Choice
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Choice is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
- Henrytown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Henrytown is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrytown
- Rushford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Clyde
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Lenora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lenora is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenora
- Troy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Whalan. See our List of 1890's Communities around Whalan.
Newspapers Published in Whalan ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Whalan.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Whalan, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Whalan.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Whalan:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Fillmore County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Houston County
- Mower County
- Olmsted County
- Winona County
- Allamakee County
- Howard County
- Winneshiek County
- Buffalo County
- Trempealeau County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Minnesota
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Whalan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <4> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Whalan, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |