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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 Columbia (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 Columbia. 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 and hospitals 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.

Columbia is located in Brown 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 Brown County: Dickey (ND), Sargent (ND), Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Marshall, McPherson & Spink.

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

  • Brown County     (The home county of Columbia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
    • Tacoma Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ordway
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ordway have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ordway
      • Ordway is located in Brown County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 306 people
    • Putney
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Prairie Wood Village Addition
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prairie Wood Village Addition have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Wood Village Addition
      • Prairie Wood Village Addition is located in Brown County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 276 people
    • Bath
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Westport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
      • Westport is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Westport <2>
    • Huffton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huffton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffton
      • Huffton is located in Brown County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 316 people
    • Bath Corner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Houghton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • James
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for James. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
      • James is located in Brown County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to James
      • From Columbia to James
    • Gederos Estates
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gederos Estates have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gederos Estates
      • Gederos Estates is located in Brown County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 212 people
    • Aberdeen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aberdeen have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
      • Aberdeen is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,180 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aberdeen <2>
  • Day County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
    • Pierpont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pierpont have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierpont
      • Pierpont is located in Day County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pierpont <2>
    • Andover
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Edmunds County
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
    • Amherst
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Langford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • West Britton ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for West Britton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Britton
      • West Britton is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,368 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to West Britton
      • From Columbia to West Britton
    • Spain
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spain have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spain
      • Spain is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 989 people
    • Britton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Britton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Britton
      • Britton is located in Marshall County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,256 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Britton <2>
  • McPherson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
    • Wetonka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wetonka have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetonka
      • Wetonka is located in McPherson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7 people
    • Long Lake Colony
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Long Lake Colony have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Lake Colony
      • Long Lake Colony is located in McPherson County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 332 people
  • Spink County
    • Duxbury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duxbury have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duxbury
      • Duxbury is located in Spink County
      • Estimated population in 2014: 531 people
  • Dickey County (ND)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
    • Silverleaf
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Silverleaf. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverleaf
      • Silverleaf is located in Dickey County (ND)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Silverleaf
      • From Columbia to Silverleaf
    • Ellendale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ellendale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
      • Ellendale is located in Dickey County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,179 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ellendale <2>
    • Guelph
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Ludden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ludden have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludden
      • Ludden is located in Dickey County (ND)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24 people

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

Cemeteries Near Columbia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Columbia.

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

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

  • Westport Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Westport Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Westport Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Houghton Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Houghton Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Houghton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Sunset Memorial Gardens
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sunset Memorial Gardens
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sunset Memorial Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sacred Heart Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sacred Heart Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • James Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the James Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the James Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • German Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the German Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the German Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Groton Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Groton Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Groton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Riverside Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Riverside Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Augustana Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Augustana Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Augustana Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Scandinavia Lutheran Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Savo Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (29 more) ...
    • Free Mission Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Free Mission Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Free Mission Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Frederick Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Frederick Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Frederick Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Detroit Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Detroit Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Detroit 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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Columbia had a population of 400 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Columbia had a population of 138 people.

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

  • Ordway
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ordway have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ordway
    • Ordway is located in Brown County
    • Estimated population in 2014: 306 people
  • Plana
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plana have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plana
    • Plana is located in Brown County
  • Putney
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Bath
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Westport
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
    • Westport is located in Brown County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Westport <2>
  • Huffton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huffton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffton
    • Huffton is located in Brown County
    • Estimated population in 2014: 316 people
  • James
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for James. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
    • James is located in Brown County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to James
    • From Columbia to James
  • Houghton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Aberdeen
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aberdeen have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
    • Aberdeen is located in Brown County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,180 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aberdeen <2>
  • Claremont
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Groton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Groton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton
    • Groton is located in Brown County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,475 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Groton <2>
  • Frederick
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Amherst
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Hecla
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hecla have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hecla
      • Hecla is located in Brown County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hecla <2>
    • Rudolph
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rudolph have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudolph
      • Rudolph is located in Brown County

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

Newspapers Published in Columbia ...

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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Columbia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Columbia, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Columbia.

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 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 Columbia:

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

The official website for Brown County: www.brown.sd.us/

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Columbia) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Columbia. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 45.6119, Longitude: -98.3111    
<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 Columbia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025