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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 Norfolk (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 Norfolk. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Norfolk is located in Madison County.

To see how the shape of Nebraska's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Madison County: Antelope, Boone, Pierce, Platte, Stanton & Wayne.

Below are the counties that are near Norfolk. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Norfolk:

  • Madison County     (The home county of Norfolk)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.
    • Warnerville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Battle Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Fairview ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Madison
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Madison have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
      • Madison is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,343 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Madison <1>
    • Meadow Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meadow Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Grove
      • Meadow Grove is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Meadow Grove <1>
    • Emerick
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Kalamazoo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kalamazoo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
      • Kalamazoo is located in Madison County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kalamazoo
      • From Norfolk to Kalamazoo
    • Tilden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tilden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
      • Tilden is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tilden <1>
    • Newman Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Antelope County
  • Cedar County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.
    • Randolph
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Belden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Magnet
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Magnet have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
      • Magnet is located in Cedar County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Magnet <1>
  • Colfax County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.
    • Leigh
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Clarkson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clarkson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
      • Clarkson is located in Colfax County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 630 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clarkson <1>
    • Howells
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Howells have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howells
      • Howells is located in Colfax County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 557 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Howells <1>
  • Cuming County
  • Pierce County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.
    • Hadar
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Wee Town
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wee Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wee Town
      • Wee Town is located in Pierce County
    • Pierce
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pierce have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
      • Pierce is located in Pierce County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,734 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pierce <1>
    • Foster
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • McLean
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Osmond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Breslau
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Plainview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plainview have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
      • Plainview is located in Pierce County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,197 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plainview <1>
  • Platte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.
    • Creston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Humphrey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Humphrey have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humphrey
      • Humphrey is located in Platte County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Humphrey <1>
    • Saint Bernard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Cornlea
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cornlea have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornlea
      • Cornlea is located in Platte County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • Lindsay
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Tarnov
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Stanton County
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.
    • Hoskins
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Winside
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Carroll
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carroll have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
      • Carroll is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carroll <1>
    • Sholes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Wayne
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wayne. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne
      • Wayne is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,758 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wayne <1>
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wayne
      • From Norfolk to Wayne

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Norfolk, see our County-by-County Page for Norfolk.

Cemeteries Near Norfolk ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norfolk.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Norfolk covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.

  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Paul Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Paul Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Prospect Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Prospect Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Prospect Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hillcrest Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Zion - Bauremeister Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Christ Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Immanuel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Immanuel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Immanuel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Best Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Allbery Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Allbery Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Allbery Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pleasant Run Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pleasant Run Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pleasant Run Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Patricks Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Patricks Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (81 more) ...
    • Belz Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Belz Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Belz Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Bethlehem Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethlehem Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethlehem Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Bega Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bega Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bega Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Norfolk had a population of 3,038 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Norfolk had a population of 24,363 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Norfolk, with the one closest to Norfolk listed first.

  • Warnerville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Hadar
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Hoskins
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Battle Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Stanton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Pierce
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pierce have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
    • Pierce is located in Pierce County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,734 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pierce <1>
  • Madison
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Madison have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
    • Madison is located in Madison County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,343 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Madison <1>
  • Winside
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Meadow Grove
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meadow Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Grove
    • Meadow Grove is located in Madison County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Meadow Grove <1>
  • Emerick
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Kalamazoo
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kalamazoo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
    • Kalamazoo is located in Madison County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Kalamazoo
    • From Norfolk to Kalamazoo
  • Pilger
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Carroll
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carroll have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
      • Carroll is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carroll <1>
    • Foster
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Tilden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tilden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
      • Tilden is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tilden <1>

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Norfolk. See our List of 1890's Communities around Norfolk.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Norfolk ...

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 161 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norfolk.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Norfolk. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Norfolk and those printed in the larger area surrounding Norfolk.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Norfolk.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Norfolk:

The official website for Norfolk: www.ci.norfolk.ne.us/

The official website for Madison County: www.co.madison.ne.us/

The official website for State of Nebraska: https://www.nebraska.gov/

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>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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- Norfolk) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Norfolk. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.0328, Longitude: -97.4138    
<5>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.
<6>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 Norfolk, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025