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 Wakonda (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 Wakonda. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Wakonda is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Cedar (NE), Dixon (NE), Lincoln, Turner, Union & Yankton.
Below are the counties that are near Wakonda. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wakonda:
- Clay County (The home county of Wakonda)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Lodi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lodi is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Estimated population in 2014: 82 people
- Riverside ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Riverside is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Westreville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Westreville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westreville
- Population from the 2010 Census: 208 people
- Bloomingdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomingdale is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
- Hub City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hub City is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City
- Komstad ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Komstad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komstad
- Estimated population in 2014: 12 people
- Meckling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Glenwood ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Glenwood is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Estimated population in 2014: 103 people
- Alsen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Alsen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsen
- Greenfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Greenfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 40 people
- Vermillion
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Burbank
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bon Homme County
- Tabor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hutchinson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Freeman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Menno
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Lennox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Moe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Moe is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moe
- Worthing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Turner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Irene
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Viborg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hooker
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Hooker is located in Turner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Spring Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Turner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Davis
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hurley
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Chancellor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Parker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Marion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Beresford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Beresford is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,043 people
- Former name for Beresford:
- Paris
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beresford <1>
- Emmet
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Emmet is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmet
- Estimated population in 2014: 231 people
- Nora
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Nora is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Spink
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spink is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spink
- Estimated population in 2014: 237 people
- Junction City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Junction City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Alcester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Big Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Big Springs is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Springs
- Richland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Richland is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Estimated population in 2014: 215 people
- Elk Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Yankton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Volin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Gayville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Valleyview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Valleyview is located in Yankton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valleyview
- Mission Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mayfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mayfield is located in Yankton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
- Midway
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Midway is located in Yankton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Yankton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Utica
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Jamesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Jamesville is located in Yankton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
- Estimated population in 2014: 232 people
- Fairview Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview Heights is located in Yankton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 77 people
- Oak Hills Addition
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hills Addition is located in Yankton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills Addition
- Estimated population in 2014: 23 people
- Lesterville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Plymouth County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Akron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Akron is located in Plymouth County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,454 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Akron <1>
- Westfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sioux County (IA)
- Chatsworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Chatsworth is located in Sioux County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Cedar County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Saint Helena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wynot
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Aten
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Aten is located in Cedar County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aten
- Bow Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bow Valley is located in Cedar County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Valley
- Obert
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Obert is located in Cedar County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
- Fordyce
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Constance
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Constance is located in Cedar County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constance
- Hartington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dixon County (NE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Maskell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Maskell is located in Dixon County (NE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maskell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 68 people
- Newcastle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Knox County (NE)
- Crofton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wakonda, see our County-by-County Page for Wakonda.
Cemeteries Near Wakonda ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wakonda.
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 Wakonda - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wakonda covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Volin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Lodi Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Columkill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bluff Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lodi Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Salem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (134 more) ...
- Rosenberg Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gayville Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hansen Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Wakonda had a population of 350 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Wakonda had a population of 296 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wakonda, with the one closest to Wakonda listed first.
- Volin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lodi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lodi is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Estimated population in 2014: 82 people
- Riverside ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Riverside is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Gayville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bloomingdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomingdale is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
- Dalesburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dalesburg is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalesburg
- Komstad ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Komstad is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komstad
- Estimated population in 2014: 12 people
- Meckling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Marshalltown ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marshalltown is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshalltown
- Mayfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mayfield is located in Yankton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 208 people
- Clay Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clay Point is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Point
- Saint Helena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Greenfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Greenfield is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Estimated population in 2014: 40 people
- Alsen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Alsen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alsen
- Spring Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Turner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wakonda. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wakonda.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wakonda ...
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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wakonda.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wakonda. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wakonda and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wakonda.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Wakonda.
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 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 Wakonda:
- Websites specific to South Dakota
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bon Homme County
- Hutchinson County
- Lincoln County
- Turner County
- Union County
- Yankton County
- Plymouth County
- Sioux County
- Cedar County
- Dixon County
- Knox 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 Wakonda, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wakonda) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |