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 Split Rock Heights (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 Split Rock Heights. 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.
Name Variations for Split Rock Heights ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Split Rock Heights: Split Rock Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Split Rock Heights 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 Split Rock Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Split Rock Heights:
- Minnehaha County (The home county of Split Rock Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Pine Lakes Addition
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Pine Lakes Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 314 people
- Rowena
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Norton Acres
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Norton Acres is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton Acres
- Population from the 2010 Census: 342 people
- Sioux Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brandon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Meadow View Addition
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Meadow View Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow View Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
- Hayward Addition
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hayward Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayward Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 380 people
- Silver Valley Addition
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Silver Valley Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Valley Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 112 people
- Renner Corner
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Renner Corner is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renner Corner
- Population from the 2010 Census: 305 people
- Renner
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Webster Grove Addition
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Webster Grove Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Grove Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 156 people
- Valley Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ellis Corner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ellis Corner is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis Corner
- Estimated population in 2014: 99 people
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Chester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brant Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brant Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brant Lake
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Shindler
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Harrisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tea
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Worthing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Canton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lennox
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Moe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- McCook County
- Montrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Moody County
- Trent
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Turner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Chancellor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Davis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Parker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hurley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hooker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hooker is located in Turner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Lyon County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Klondike
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Larchwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lester
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lester is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Beloit
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Inwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Alvord
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Rapids
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Doon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Edna is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Sioux County (IA)
- Rock Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pipestone County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Jasper Sunrise Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper Sunrise Village is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper Sunrise Village
- Jasper
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Ihlen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Manley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Bruce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Beaver Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 283 people
- Steen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Ash Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Luverne
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Kanaranzi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hardwick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Split Rock Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Split Rock Heights.
Cemeteries Near Split Rock Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Split Rock Heights.
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 Split Rock Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Split Rock Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- Hills of Rest Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Minnehaha Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Brandon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Grandview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Beaver Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bear Valley Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Berg Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (123 more) ...
- Bethel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tea Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Larchwood Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Split Rock Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Split Rock Heights.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Split Rock Heights, with the one closest to Split Rock Heights listed first.
- East Sioux Falls
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- East Sioux Falls is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sioux Falls
- Shindler
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Rowena
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sioux Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brandon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Granite
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Granite is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite
- Harrisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Corson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Corson is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corson
- Benclare
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Benclare is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benclare
- Valley Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ellis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ellis is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Larchwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Manley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Bruce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Booge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Booge is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booge
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Split Rock Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Split Rock Heights.
Newspapers Published in Split Rock Heights ...
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 150 newspapers that have been published in the area around Split Rock Heights.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Split Rock Heights, 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 Split Rock Heights.
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 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 Split Rock Heights:
- Websites specific to South Dakota
- Pages specific to Minnehaha County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lake County
- Lincoln County
- McCook County
- Moody County
- Turner County
- Lyon County
- Sioux County
- Pipestone 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> | 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 Split Rock Heights, 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 from Point A (ie- Split Rock Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |