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 Windom (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 Windom. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Windom is located in Cottonwood County and is the County Seat.
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 Cottonwood County: Brown, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Redwood & Watonwan.
Below are the counties that are near Windom. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Windom:
- Cottonwood County (The home county of Windom)
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Bingham Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jeffers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Jeffers is located in Cottonwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Storden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Storden is located in Cottonwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Storden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Westbrook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Comfrey
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Springfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Leavenworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Leavenworth is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leavenworth
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Wilder
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wilder is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Heron Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Heron Lake is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heron Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 643 people
- Lakefield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Okabena
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Okabena is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okabena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Jackson
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Alpha
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Alpha is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 119 people
- Sioux Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Sioux Valley is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Valley
- Petersburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Ormsby
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Ormsby is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Trimont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sherburn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dunnell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dunnell is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Welcome
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Murray County
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Fulda
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dovray
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dovray is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Avoca
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Avoca is located in Murray County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Currie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Nobles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Dundee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Kinbrae
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kinbrae is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinbrae
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
- Brewster
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brewster is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
- Round Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Worthington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Redwood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Sanborn
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lamberton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Revere
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wanda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Watonwan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Butterfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Odin
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Odin is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Darfur
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Darfur is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darfur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
- Saint James
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Godahl
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Godahl is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godahl
- Grogan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Grogan is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grogan
- La Salle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- La Salle is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Salle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Dickinson County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Orleans
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Orleans is located in Dickinson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
- Lake Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Windom, see our County-by-County Page for Windom.
Cemeteries Near Windom ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Windom.
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 Windom - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Windom covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- St. Francis Xavier Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lakeview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Resthaven Memory Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Delafield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Wilder Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Christiana Norwegian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Voth Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Delft Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Springfield Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- St. Peter Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Carson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (114 more) ...
- Bethany Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Windom had a population of 835 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Windom had a population of 4,403 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Windom, with the one closest to Windom listed first.
- Wilder
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wilder is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
- Population from the 2020 Census: 56 people
- Bingham Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Heron Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Heron Lake is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heron Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 643 people
- Okabena
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Okabena is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okabena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Lakefield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Storden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Storden is located in Cottonwood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Storden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Butterfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Butterfield is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 582 people
- Dundee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
- Kinbrae
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kinbrae is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinbrae
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10 people
- Jackson
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Odin
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Odin is located in Watonwan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Comfrey
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Westbrook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brewster
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brewster is located in Nobles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brewster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 466 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Windom. See our List of 1890's Communities around Windom.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Windom ...
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 99 newspapers that have been published in the area around Windom.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Windom. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Windom and those printed in the larger area surrounding Windom.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Windom.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites 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 Windom:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Cottonwood County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Brown County
- Jackson County
- Martin County
- Murray County
- Nobles County
- Redwood County
- Watonwan County
- Dickinson 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> | 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 Windom, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Windom) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |