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 Altoona (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 Altoona. 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 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.
Altoona is located in Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire County: Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Jackson, Pepin & Trempealeau.
Below are the counties that are near Altoona. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Altoona:
- Eau Claire County (The home county of Altoona)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Seymour
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Seymour is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Eau Claire
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Claire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69,087 people
- Shawtown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shawtown is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawtown
- Fall Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Fall Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- Lufkin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lufkin is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lufkin
- Allen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Allen is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Augusta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Augusta is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
- Hay Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hay Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay Creek
- Fairchild
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fairchild is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairchild
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Buffalo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Mondovi
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mondovi is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mondovi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,562 people
- Lookout
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lookout is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Gilmanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gilmanton is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmanton
- Springdale ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Springdale is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Chippewa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Lake Hallie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lake Hallie is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Hallie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,779 people
- Irvine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Irvine is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine
- Chippewa Falls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chippewa Falls is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,407 people
- Lake Wissota
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Wissota is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wissota
- Albertville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Albertville is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albertville
- Eagleton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Eagleton is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagleton
- Cadott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cadott is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,411 people
- Bloomer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bloomer is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,508 people
- Drywood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Drywood is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drywood
- Boyd
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Boyd is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
- Stanley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stanley is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,705 people
- New Auburn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- New Auburn is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Cornell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cornell is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
- Clark County
- Eidsvold
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Eidsvold is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eidsvold
- Dunn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Elk Mound
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Elk Mound is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Rock Falls
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Falls City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Falls City is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Meridean
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Meridean is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridean
- Colfax
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Colfax is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,151 people
- Tainter Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tainter Lake is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tainter Lake
- Dunnville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dunnville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnville
- Menomonie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,599 people
- Wheeler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Eau Galle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Eau Galle is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Galle
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Requa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Requa is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Requa
- Levis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Levis is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levis
- York
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- York is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Pepin County
- Durand
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Durand is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,789 people
- Trempealeau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Eleva
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Eleva is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleva
- Population from the 2020 Census: 661 people
- Strum
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Strum is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,071 people
- Osseo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Osseo is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osseo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,671 people
- Russell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Russell is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Pigeon Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pigeon Falls is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Coral City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Coral City is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coral City
- Independence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Independence is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- Whitehall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Whitehall is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,565 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Altoona, see our County-by-County Page for Altoona.
Cemeteries Near Altoona ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Altoona.
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 Altoona - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Altoona covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Forest Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rest Haven Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lakeview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prairie View Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rumery Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- St. Bridgets Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brunswick Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hadleyville Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (156 more) ...
- Trinity Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- McCombs Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Home Park Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
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 Altoona had a population of 805 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Altoona had a population of 8,062 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
- Eau Claire
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Claire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69,087 people
- Shawtown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shawtown is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawtown
- Truax
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Truax is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truax
- Fall Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Fall Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- Irvine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Irvine is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine
- Chippewa Falls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chippewa Falls is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,407 people
- Caryville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Caryville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caryville
- Nix Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nix Corner is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nix Corner
- Bateman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bateman is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bateman
- Elk Mound
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Elk Mound is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Rock Falls
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Eleva
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Eleva is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleva
- Population from the 2020 Census: 661 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Ludington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Ludington is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludington
- Eagle Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Eagle Point is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point
- Meridean
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Meridean is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridean
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Altoona. See our List of 1890's Communities around Altoona.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Altoona ...
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 131 newspapers that have been published in the area around Altoona.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Altoona. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Altoona and those printed in the larger area surrounding Altoona.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Altoona.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Altoona:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Eau Claire County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buffalo County
- Chippewa County
- Clark County
- Dunn County
- Jackson County
- Pepin County
- Trempealeau County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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. |
| <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 Altoona, 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' (or 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- Altoona) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |