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 Valley Springs (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 Valley Springs. 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 Valley Springs ...
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 Valley Springs: Valley Spgs. (or less commonly used: Valley Spngs. or Valley Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Springs.
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 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.
Valley Springs 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 Valley Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Springs:
- Minnehaha County (The home county of Valley Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Brandon
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rowena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Lakes Addition
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pine Lakes Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 314 people
- Garretson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Split Rock Heights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Split Rock Heights is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Split Rock Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 216 people
- Norton Acres
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Norton Acres is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton Acres
- Population from the 2010 Census: 342 people
- Sherman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sherman is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Meadow View Addition
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Meadow View Addition is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow View Addition
- Population from the 2010 Census: 538 people
- Renner Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Renner Corner is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renner Corner
- Population from the 2010 Census: 305 people
- Renner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sioux Falls
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Midway
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Midway is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Estimated population in 2014: 123 people
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Shindler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Harrisburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Canton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Tea
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Worthing
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lennox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Moe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Moody County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Trent
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sioux Falls Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sioux Falls Junction is located in Moody County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sioux Falls Junction
- Estimated population in 2014: 119 people
- Egan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lone Tree
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lone Tree is located in Moody County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Tree
- Estimated population in 2014: 14 people
- Turner County
- Chancellor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lyon County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Larchwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lester is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Klondike
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Klondike is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
- Inwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Alvord
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Rapids
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Beloit
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Beloit is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Edna
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Edna is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- Doon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- George
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sioux County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Rock Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Perkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Perkins is located in Sioux County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
- Nobles County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Ellsworth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Adrian
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Leota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Leota is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leota
- Lismore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lismore is located in Nobles County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 218 people
- Pipestone County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Jasper Sunrise Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Jasper Sunrise Village is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper Sunrise Village
- Jasper
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Jasper is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Ihlen
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Trosky
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Edgerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pipestone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hatfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hatfield is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 52 people
- Airlie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Airlie is located in Pipestone County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
- Rock County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Manley
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Beaver Creek
(5 miles [8 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
- Bruce
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Steen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Steen is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Ash Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ash Creek is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Creek
- Luverne
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Kanaranzi
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hardwick
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Magnolia
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Kenneth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kenneth is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 66 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Springs.
Cemeteries Near Valley Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Springs.
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 Valley Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- South Beaver Valley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Valley Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Beaver Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Palisades Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- West Palisades Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Nerison Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- United Reformed Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dutch Reform Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brandon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Larchwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (118 more) ...
- Flowerfield Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Summit Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Valley Springs had a population of 308 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Valley Springs had a population of 733 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Springs, with the one closest to Valley Springs listed first.
- Manley
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Manley is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Booge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Booge is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booge
- Benclare
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Benclare is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benclare
- Bruce
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bruce is located in Rock County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Beaver Creek
(5 miles [8 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
- Corson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Corson is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corson
- Brandon
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rowena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Sioux Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Sioux Falls is located in Minnehaha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sioux Falls
- Larchwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Garretson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Granite
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Granite is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite
- Shindler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shindler is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shindler
- Population from the 2010 Census: 584 people
- Lester
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lester is located in Lyon County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Springs.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Valley Springs ...
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 157 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Springs.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Valley Springs. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Valley Springs and those printed in the larger area surrounding Valley Springs.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Valley Springs.
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 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 Valley Springs:
- Websites specific to South Dakota
- Pages specific to Minnehaha County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lincoln County
- Moody County
- Turner County
- Lyon County
- Sioux County
- Nobles 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 Valley Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Valley Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |