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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 Peninsula Park (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 Peninsula Park. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Peninsula Park is located in Lake 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 Lake County: Brookings, Kingsbury, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha & Moody.

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

  • Lake County     (The home county of Peninsula Park)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Peninsula Park, with the one closest to Peninsula Park listed first.
    • Wentworth
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Brant Lake
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Brant Lake is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brant Lake
    • Franklin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Franklin is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Estimated population in 2014: 333 people
    • Chester
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Madison
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Prairie Village
      (8 miles [12.9 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
    • Rutland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Prairie Queen ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Prairie Queen is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Queen
    • Junius
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Junius is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junius
    • Nunda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Ramona
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Winfred
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Brookings County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Peninsula Park, with the one closest to Peninsula Park listed first.
    • Sinai
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Medary
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Medary is located in Brookings County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medary
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,442 people
    • Volga
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Brookings
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Aurora
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sunnyview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sunnyview is located in Brookings County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyview
      • Estimated population in 2014: 17 people
  • Kingsbury County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Peninsula Park, with the one closest to Peninsula Park listed first.
    • Oldham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Arlington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • McCook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Peninsula Park, with the one closest to Peninsula Park listed first.
    • Montrose
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Salem
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Unityville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Unityville is located in McCook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unityville
      • Estimated population in 2014: 52 people
    • Canistota
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Salem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Salem is located in McCook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
  • Miner County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Peninsula Park, with the one closest to Peninsula Park listed first.
    • Canova
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Howard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Vilas
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Vilas is located in Miner County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19 people
  • Minnehaha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Peninsula Park, with the one closest to Peninsula Park listed first.
    • Huntimer
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Huntimer is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntimer
      • Estimated population in 2014: 590 people
    • Colton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Lyons
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Dell Rapids
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Baltic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Baltic is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,201 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Baltic <1>
    • Humboldt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Hartford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Crooks
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Midway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Midway is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Estimated population in 2014: 123 people
    • Ellis Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Ellis Corner is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis Corner
      • Estimated population in 2014: 99 people
    • Renner Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Renner Corner is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renner Corner
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 305 people
    • Renner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Moody County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Peninsula Park, with the one closest to Peninsula Park listed first.
    • Colman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Dyce ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Dyce is located in Moody County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyce
    • Lone Tree
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Lone Tree is located in Moody County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Tree
      • Estimated population in 2014: 14 people
    • Sioux Falls Junction
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Sioux Falls Junction is located in Moody County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Falls Junction
      • Estimated population in 2014: 119 people
    • Trent
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Egan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Flandreau
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Ward
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Pipestone County (MN)
    • Airlie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Airlie is located in Pipestone County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie

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

Cemeteries Near Peninsula Park ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Peninsula Park.

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 Peninsula Park - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Franklin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Prospect Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lake Park Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Thomas Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Bethania Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Huntimer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Hegrey Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Molskness Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (108 more) ...
    • St. Jacobs Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Colman Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Bethany Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)

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>

While we didn't find Peninsula Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Peninsula Park.

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

  • Franklin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Franklin is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
    • Estimated population in 2014: 333 people
  • Brant Lake
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Brant Lake is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brant Lake
  • Wentworth
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Chester
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Madison
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Orland ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Orland is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orland
  • Colman
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Prairie Queen ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Prairie Queen is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Queen
  • Ramona
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Lyons
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Sioux Falls Junction
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Sioux Falls Junction is located in Moody County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Falls Junction
    • Estimated population in 2014: 119 people
  • Dell Rapids
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Trent
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Winfred
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Baltic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Baltic is located in Minnehaha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,201 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Baltic <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Peninsula Park ...

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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Peninsula Park.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Peninsula Park, 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 Peninsula Park.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Peninsula Park:

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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Peninsula Park) 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 Peninsula Park, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.