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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 Bonilla (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 Bonilla. 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 southeast 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 south.

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 south 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.

Bonilla is located in Beadle County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Beadle County: Clark, Hand, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Miner, Sanborn & Spink.

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

  • Beadle County     (The home county of Bonilla)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bonilla, with the one closest to Bonilla listed first.
    • Hitchcock
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hitchcock have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitchcock
      • Hitchcock is located in Beadle County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hitchcock <2>
    • Broadland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Wolsey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wolsey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolsey
      • Wolsey is located in Beadle County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wolsey <2>
    • Wessington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wessington have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wessington
      • Wessington is located in Beadle County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wessington <2>
    • Huron Colony
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huron Colony have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron Colony
      • Huron Colony is located in Beadle County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 403 people
    • Virgil
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Virgil have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil
      • Virgil is located in Beadle County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Virgil <2>
    • Huron
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Morningside
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cavour
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cavour have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavour
      • Cavour is located in Beadle County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cavour <2>
    • Yale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Clark County
  • Faulk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bonilla, with the one closest to Bonilla listed first.
    • Zell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Zell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zell
      • Zell is located in Faulk County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 65 people
    • Rockham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rockham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockham
      • Rockham is located in Faulk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 33 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rockham <2>
  • Hand County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bonilla, with the one closest to Bonilla listed first.
    • Saint Lawrence
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Lawrence have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lawrence
      • Saint Lawrence is located in Hand County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Lawrence <2>
    • Miller
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Florence ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Florence have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
      • Florence is located in Hand County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 374 people
  • Jerauld County
    • Alpena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alpena have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpena
      • Alpena is located in Jerauld County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alpena <2>
  • Spink County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bonilla, with the one closest to Bonilla listed first.
    • Spottswood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Spottswood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
      • Spottswood is located in Spink County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Spottswood
      • From Bonilla to Spottswood
    • Tulare
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tulare have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulare
      • Tulare is located in Spink County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tulare <2>
    • Spink Colony
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spink Colony have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spink Colony
      • Spink Colony is located in Spink County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 155 people
    • Redfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Frankfort
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Ashton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Doland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Doland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doland
      • Doland is located in Spink County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Doland <2>
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Doland
      • From Bonilla to Doland

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

Cemeteries Near Bonilla ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bonilla.

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 Bonilla covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Bonilla Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bonilla Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bonilla Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Altoona Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Garfield Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Garfield Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Garfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Broadland Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Broadland Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Broadland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Tulare Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tulare Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tulare Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Buffalo Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Buffalo Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Buffalo Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wolsey Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Graceland Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Graceland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wessington Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hillestad Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hillestad Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hillestad Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (44 more) ...
    • Crandon Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crandon Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Crandon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • McCord Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Beulah Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Beulah Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Beulah Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bonilla had a population of 117 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Spottswood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Spottswood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
    • Spottswood is located in Spink County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Spottswood
    • From Bonilla to Spottswood
  • Hitchcock
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hitchcock have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitchcock
    • Hitchcock is located in Beadle County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hitchcock <2>
  • Broadland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Tulare
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tulare have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulare
    • Tulare is located in Spink County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tulare <2>
  • Wolsey
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wolsey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolsey
    • Wolsey is located in Beadle County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wolsey <2>
  • Wessington
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wessington have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wessington
    • Wessington is located in Beadle County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wessington <2>
  • Crandon
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crandon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandon
    • Crandon is located in Spink County
  • Burdette
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burdette have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
    • Burdette is located in Hand County
  • James Valley Junction
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for James Valley Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James Valley Junction
    • James Valley Junction is located in Beadle County
  • LaDelle
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for LaDelle have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaDelle
    • LaDelle is located in Spink County
  • Virgil
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Virgil have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgil
    • Virgil is located in Beadle County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 18 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Virgil <2>
  • Huron
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Bonilla ...

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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bonilla.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bonilla, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bonilla.

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 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 Bonilla:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Bonilla. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Beadle County: www.beadlecounty.org/

The official website for State of South Dakota: https://www.sd.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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.
<5>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 Bonilla, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Bonilla) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Bonilla. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.5835, Longitude: -98.5004    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025