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 Almena (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 Almena. 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.
Almena is located in Barron County.
To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Barron County: Burnett, Chippewa, Dunn, Polk, Rusk, Saint Croix, Sawyer & Washburn.
Below are the counties that are near Almena. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Almena:
- Barron County (The home county of Almena)
- The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Poskin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Poskin is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poskin
- Twin Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Twin Town is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Town
- Turtle Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Turtle Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Cumberland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cumberland is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,097 people
- Barron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Barron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
- Hillsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Prairie Farm
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Prairie Farm is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Farm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 434 people
- Cameron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cameron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,798 people
- Rice Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rice Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,498 people
- Dallas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dallas is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Haugen
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Haugen is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haugen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Chetek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Chetek is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chetek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
- Burnett County
- The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Bashaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bashaw is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bashaw
- Hertel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hertel is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hertel
- Siren
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Siren is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siren
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Chippewa County
- New Auburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Auburn is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Dunn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Ridgeland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeland is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Boyceville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Boyceville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,124 people
- Downing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Downing is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Wheeler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Tainter Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tainter Lake is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tainter Lake
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Clayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
- Clear Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,099 people
- Bunyan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bunyan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunyan
- Amery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Amery is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,799 people
- Volga ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Volga is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
- Balsam Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Balsam Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balsam Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 978 people
- Deronda
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Deronda is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deronda
- Clam Falls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clam Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Falls
- Luck
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Luck is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luck
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
- Milltown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Milltown is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 875 people
- Centuria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Centuria is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centuria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 905 people
- Frederic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Frederic is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
- Horse Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Horse Creek is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
- Rusk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Strickland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Strickland is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Weyerhaeuser
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Weyerhaeuser is located in Rusk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weyerhaeuser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Saint Croix County
- The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Deer Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Park is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
- Glenwood City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Glenwood City is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,214 people
- Star Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Star Prairie is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- Erin Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Erin Corner is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin Corner
- Washburn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Shell Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Shell Lake is located in Washburn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,318 people
- Nobleton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Nobleton is located in Washburn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nobleton
- Madge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Madge is located in Washburn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madge
- Birchwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Birchwood is located in Washburn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 426 people
- Spooner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Spooner is located in Washburn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spooner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,553 people
- Chisago County (MN)
- Taylors Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Almena, see our County-by-County Page for Almena.
Cemeteries Near Almena ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Almena.
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 Almena - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Almena covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- St. Matthew Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bethany Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bethany Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lake View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Comstock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Poskin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Ann Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Peace Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (120 more) ...
- Independent Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- St. Charles Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Almena had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Almena had a population of 638 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Almena, with the one closest to Almena listed first.
- Comstock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Comstock is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Turtle Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Turtle Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Cumberland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cumberland is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,097 people
- Clayton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
- Barron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Barron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
- Joel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Joel is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joel
- Richardson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Richardson is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
- Hillsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Prairie Farm
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Prairie Farm is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Farm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 434 people
- Cameron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cameron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,798 people
- Clear Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,099 people
- Dallas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dallas is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Rice Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rice Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,498 people
- Barronett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Barronett is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barronett
- Bunyan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bunyan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunyan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Almena. See our List of 1890's Communities around Almena.
Newspapers Published in Almena ...
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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Almena.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Almena, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Almena.
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 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 Almena:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Barron County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Burnett County
- Chippewa County
- Dunn County
- Polk County
- Rusk County
- Saint Croix County
- Washburn County
- Chisago County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
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> | 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 Almena, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Almena) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |