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 Hartford (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 Hartford. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Hartford is located in Minnehaha County.
To see how the shape of South Dakota's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Minnehaha County: Lyon (IA), Rock (MN), Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Moody & Turner.
Below are the counties that are near Hartford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hartford:
- Minnehaha County (The home county of Hartford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Ellis Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ellis Corner is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis Corner
- Estimated population in 2014: 99 people
- West Acres Development
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Acres Development is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Acres Development
- Estimated population in 2014: 180 people
- Humboldt
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Crooks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lyons
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Webster Grove Addition
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Webster Grove Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Grove Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 156 people
- El Rancho Acres
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- El Rancho Acres is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Rancho Acres
- Estimated population in 2014: 27 people
- Hayward Addition
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hayward Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 380 people
- Silver Valley Addition
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Valley Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Valley Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 112 people
- Pumpkin Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pumpkin Center is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pumpkin Center
- Estimated population in 2014: 13 people
- Meadow View Addition
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Meadow View Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow View Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
- Colton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hutchinson County
- Freeman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Chester
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Franklin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Franklin is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Estimated population in 2014: 333 people
- Brant Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Brant Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brant Lake
- Peninsula Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Peninsula Park is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peninsula Park
- Estimated population in 2014: 32 people
- Wentworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Madison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Prairie Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Village is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Village
- Estimated population in 2014: 18 people
- Junius
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Junius is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junius
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Tea
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lennox
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Harrisburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shindler
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Worthing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Canton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- McCook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Montrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Canistota
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Salem
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Salem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Salem is located in McCook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Unityville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Unityville is located in McCook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unityville
- Estimated population in 2014: 52 people
- Bridgewater
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Moody County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Trent
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Colman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lone Tree
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Tree is located in Moody County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Tree
- Estimated population in 2014: 14 people
- Sioux Falls Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sioux Falls Junction is located in Moody County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Falls Junction
- Estimated population in 2014: 119 people
- Egan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Turner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Monroe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chancellor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Parker
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Marion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dolton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dolton is located in Turner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
- Hurley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Davis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hooker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hooker is located in Turner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Lyon County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Klondike
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Larchwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beloit
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Manley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Bruce
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Beaver Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hartford, see our County-by-County Page for Hartford.
Cemeteries Near Hartford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hartford.
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 Hartford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hartford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- St. George Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hartford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lyons Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Humboldt Public Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- German Methodist Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Berg Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Clear Lake Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Minnehaha County Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha County Cemetery
- The Minnehaha County Cemetery has also been known as:
- Minnehaha Cemetery
- Continue List (118 more) ...
- Taopi Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Wellington Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Hartford had a population of 295 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Hartford had a population of 3,406 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hartford, with the one closest to Hartford listed first.
- Humboldt
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ellis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ellis is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Lyons
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sioux Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Baltic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Montrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Canistota
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Parker
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lennox
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Harrisburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shindler
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- East Sioux Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- East Sioux Falls is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sioux Falls
- Brandon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Corson
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Corson is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hartford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hartford.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hartford ...
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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hartford.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hartford. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hartford and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hartford.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Hartford.
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 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 Hartford:
- Websites specific to South Dakota
- Pages specific to Minnehaha County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hutchinson County
- Lake County
- Lincoln County
- McCook County
- Moody County
- Turner County
- Lyon County
- Rock County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Dakota
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 Hartford, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Hartford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |