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 South Yankton (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 South Yankton. 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.
Name Variations for South Yankton ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for South Yankton: S. Yankton
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
South Yankton is located in Cedar County.
To see how the shape of Nebraska's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Cedar County: Dixon, Knox, Pierce, Wayne, Clay (SD) & Yankton (SD).
Below are the counties that are near South Yankton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Yankton:
- Cedar County (The home county of South Yankton)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Aten
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Aten is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aten
- Saint Helena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Constance
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Constance is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constance
- Fordyce
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bow Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bow Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Valley
- Wynot
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hartington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Obert
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Obert is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
- Coleridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dixon County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Maskell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Maskell is located in Dixon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maskell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Newcastle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Crofton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tewsville ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Tewsville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tewsville
- Lindy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lindy is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindy
- Bloomfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Santee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Santee is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 338 people
- Wausa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bon Homme County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Tabor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tabor is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tabor <1>
- Springfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tyndall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Scotland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kingsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kingsburg is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsburg
- Estimated population in 2014: 697 people
- Clay County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Meckling
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wakonda
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Westreville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Westreville is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westreville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 208 people
- Lodi
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lodi is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Estimated population in 2014: 82 people
- Bloomingdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bloomingdale is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
- Vermillion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hub City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hub City is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City
- Riverside ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Riverside is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Greenfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Greenfield is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 40 people
- Komstad ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Komstad is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komstad
- Estimated population in 2014: 12 people
- Burbank
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Alsen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Alsen is located in Clay County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsen
- Hutchinson County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Menno
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Menno is located in Hutchinson County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menno
- Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Menno <1>
- Olivet
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Turner County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Irene
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Spring Valley is located in Turner County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Viborg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Centerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hooker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hooker is located in Turner County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Yankton County (SD)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Yankton
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Fairview Heights
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview Heights is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 77 people
- Oak Hills Addition
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oak Hills Addition is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 23 people
- Mission Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Valleyview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Valleyview is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valleyview
- Utica
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gayville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Volin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mayfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mayfield is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
- Lesterville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jamesville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jamesville is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
- Estimated population in 2014: 232 people
- Midway
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Midway is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Yankton, see our County-by-County Page for South Yankton.
Cemeteries Near South Yankton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Yankton.
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 South Yankton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Yankton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Aten Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Garden of Memories Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Yankton Municipal Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Beaver Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- St. Helena Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Vangen Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Crofton Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rosenberg Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nedved Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- St. Rose Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (104 more) ...
- Fordyce Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lake Port Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gayville Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find South Yankton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of South Yankton.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Yankton, with the one closest to South Yankton listed first.
- Yankton
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Aten
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Aten is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aten
- Menominee
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Menominee is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menominee
- Saint Helena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Constance
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Constance is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constance
- Utica
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeport is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Bow Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bow Valley is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Valley
- Gayville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Volin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Saint James
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint James is located in Cedar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James
- Tabor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tabor is located in Bon Homme County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tabor <1>
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Meckling
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Mayfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mayfield is located in Yankton County (SD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
- Lesterville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Yankton. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Yankton.
Newspapers Published in South Yankton ...
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 116 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Yankton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Yankton, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Yankton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 South Yankton:
- Websites specific to Nebraska
- Pages specific to Cedar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dixon County
- Knox County
- Bon Homme County
- Clay County
- Hutchinson County
- Turner County
- Yankton County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Nebraska
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 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. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- South Yankton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 South Yankton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |