RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of South Dakota >> Turner County >> Monroe >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Monroe (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 Monroe. 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 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.

Monroe is located in Turner 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 Turner County: Clay, Hutchinson, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha & Yankton.

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

  • Turner County     (The home county of Monroe)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
    • Marion
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Parker
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dolton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Dolton is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39 people
    • Chancellor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Hurley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Spring Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Spring Valley is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
    • Davis
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Viborg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Hooker
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hooker is located in Turner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
    • Irene
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Centerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Hanson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
    • Emery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Farmer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Farmer is located in Hanson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11 people
    • Alexandria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Hutchinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
    • Freeman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wolf Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Wolf Creek is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
      • Estimated population in 2014: 195 people
    • Menno
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Menno is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menno
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 615 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Menno <1>
    • Tschetter Colony
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Tschetter Colony is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tschetter Colony
      • Estimated population in 2014: 80 people
    • Olivet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Milltown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Milltown is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 115 people
    • New Elm Springs Colony
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • New Elm Springs Colony is located in Hutchinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elm Springs Colony
      • Estimated population in 2014: 600 people
  • Lake County
    • Franklin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Franklin is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Estimated population in 2014: 333 people
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
    • Lennox
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Tea
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Tea is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tea
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,405 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tea <1>
    • Worthing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Harrisburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Shindler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Shindler is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
  • McCook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
    • Canistota
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Montrose
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Bridgewater
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Salem
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Salem is located in McCook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
    • Salem
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Unityville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Unityville is located in McCook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unityville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 52 people
    • Spencer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Miner County
    • Canova
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Minnehaha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
    • Pumpkin Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pumpkin Center is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pumpkin Center
      • Estimated population in 2014: 13 people
    • Humboldt
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • El Rancho Acres
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • El Rancho Acres is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Rancho Acres
      • Estimated population in 2014: 27 people
    • West Acres Development
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • West Acres Development is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Acres Development
      • Estimated population in 2014: 180 people
    • Silver Valley Addition
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Silver Valley Addition is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Valley Addition
      • Estimated population in 2014: 112 people
    • Webster Grove Addition
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Webster Grove Addition is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Grove Addition
      • Estimated population in 2014: 156 people
    • Ellis Corner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ellis Corner is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis Corner
      • Estimated population in 2014: 99 people
    • Hayward Addition
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Hayward Addition is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward Addition
      • Estimated population in 2014: 380 people
    • Crooks
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Crooks is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crooks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,341 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Crooks <1>
    • Lyons
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Sioux Falls
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Yankton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monroe, with the one closest to Monroe listed first.
    • Midway
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Midway is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Mayfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Mayfield is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
      • Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
    • Jamesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jamesville is located in Yankton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 232 people

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

Cemeteries Near Monroe ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Monroe.

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

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

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

  • Reformed Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • West Vermillion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Dicks Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Wellington Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Tieszen Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Christina Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (111 more) ...
    • German Methodist Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Schartner Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Canistota Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canistota Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Canistota Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Canistota.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #96858 <3>

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Monroe had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Monroe had a population of 156 people.

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

  • Marion
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Parker
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Canistota
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Humboldt
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Freeman
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Montrose
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Bridgewater
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Hurley
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Hartford
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lennox
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Salem
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
  • Spring Valley
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Spring Valley is located in Turner County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Ellis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Ellis is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
    • Emery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Lyons
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Monroe ...

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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Monroe.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Monroe, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Monroe.

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 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 Monroe:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Monroe) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Monroe, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.