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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 Hayti (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 Hayti. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Hayti is located in Hamlin County and is the County Seat.

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 Hamlin County: Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant & Kingsbury.

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

  • Hamlin County     (The home county of Hayti)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hayti, with the one closest to Hayti listed first.
    • Lake Norden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Alsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Alsville is located in Hamlin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsville
    • Thomas
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Thomas is located in Hamlin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
      • Estimated population in 2014: 290 people
    • Kones Corner
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Kones Corner is located in Hamlin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kones Corner
    • Stone Bridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Stone Bridge is located in Hamlin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Bridge
      • Estimated population in 2014: 105 people
    • Castlewood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hazel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dempster
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Dempster is located in Hamlin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dempster
    • Bryant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Estelline
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Brookings County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hayti, with the one closest to Hayti listed first.
    • Bruce
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bruce is located in Brookings County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bruce <1>
    • North Grove Addition
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • North Grove Addition is located in Brookings County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Grove Addition
      • Estimated population in 2014: 471 people
    • Volga
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Volga is located in Brookings County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,080 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Volga <1>
    • Sinai
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Sinai is located in Brookings County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinai
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 125 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sinai <1>
    • Sunnyview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunnyview is located in Brookings County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyview
      • Estimated population in 2014: 17 people
  • Clark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hayti, with the one closest to Hayti listed first.
    • Vienna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Naples
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Naples is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
    • Success ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Success is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Success
      • Estimated population in 2014: 6,741 people
    • Willow Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Elrod
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Elrod is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrod
      • Estimated population in 2014: 92 people
    • Garden City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Clark
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Codington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hayti, with the one closest to Hayti listed first.
    • Grover
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Grover is located in Codington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover
      • Estimated population in 2014: 171 people
    • Appleby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Appleby is located in Codington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
    • Kampeska
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Kampeska is located in Codington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kampeska
      • Estimated population in 2014: 331 people
    • Watertown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Henry
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Henry is located in Codington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Henry <1>
    • Kranzburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rauville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Rauville is located in Codington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rauville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 292 people
    • Waverly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Florence
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Deuel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hayti, with the one closest to Hayti listed first.
    • Bemis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bemis is located in Deuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bemis
    • Johnsonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Johnsonville is located in Deuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonville
    • Goodwin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Clear Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Brandt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Toronto
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Altamont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Altamont is located in Deuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Tunerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tunerville is located in Deuel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunerville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 218 people
  • Kingsbury County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hayti, with the one closest to Hayti listed first.
    • Badger
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Erwin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hetland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Arlington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Lake Preston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • De Smet
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bancroft
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bancroft is located in Kingsbury County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19 people
    • Oldham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Hayti ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hayti.

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 Hayti - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Pleasant View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • West Norden Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • New Hope Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Olivet Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • East Norden Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Apostolic Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Oxford Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Kellerton Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Scandinavian Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Garfield Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Danish Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (101 more) ...
    • Poinsett Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Castlewood Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)

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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hayti had a population of 10 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Hayti had a population of 381 people.

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

  • Castlewood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Grover
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Grover is located in Codington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grover
    • Estimated population in 2014: 171 people
  • Hazel
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Dempster
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Dempster is located in Hamlin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dempster
  • Bryant
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Appleby
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Appleby is located in Codington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleby
  • Vienna
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Kampeska
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Kampeska is located in Codington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kampeska
    • Estimated population in 2014: 331 people
  • Estelline
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Erwin
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Success ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Success is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Success
    • Estimated population in 2014: 6,741 people
  • Watertown
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Naples
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Naples is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naples
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 49 people
    • Hetland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Henry
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Henry is located in Codington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Henry <1>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hayti ...

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 68 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hayti.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hayti. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hayti and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hayti.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Hayti.

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 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 Hayti:

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>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 Hayti, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- Hayti) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.