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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 Arlington (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 Arlington. 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 southwest 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 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.

Arlington is located in Columbia County.

To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Columbia County: Adams, Dane, Dodge, Green Lake, Juneau, Marquette & Sauk.

Below are the counties that are near Arlington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Arlington:

  • Columbia County     (The home county of Arlington)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • North Leeds
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Poynette
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Keyeser
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Keyeser. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
      • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Keyeser
      • From Arlington to Keyeser
    • Lodi
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Harmony Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Rio
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rio have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
      • Rio is located in Columbia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
    • Lake Wisconsin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Wisconsin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wisconsin
      • Lake Wisconsin is located in Columbia County
    • Okee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Wyocena
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Otsego
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Doylestown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Durwards Glen ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Pardeeville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pardeeville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pardeeville
      • Pardeeville is located in Columbia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,053 people
  • Dane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • Morrisonville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • DeForest
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Windsor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Dane
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dane have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dane
      • Dane is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
    • North Bristol
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Waunakee
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waunakee have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waunakee
      • Waunakee is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,188 people
    • East Bristol
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Sun Prairie
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sun Prairie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Prairie
      • Sun Prairie is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,119 people
    • Mendota
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mendota. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
      • Mendota is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mendota
      • From Arlington to Mendota
    • Burke
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Burke. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
      • Burke is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Burke
      • From Arlington to Burke
    • Darwin ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Darwin. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
      • Darwin is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Darwin
      • From Arlington to Darwin
    • Ashton Corners
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • Astico
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Randolph
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Randolph have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
      • Randolph is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
    • Reeseville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Lowell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lowell have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
      • Lowell is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
    • Fox Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fox Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Lake
      • Fox Lake is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,440 people
    • Beaver Dam
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beaver Dam have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Dam
      • Beaver Dam is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,303 people
  • Green Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • Kingston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Marquette
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marquette have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquette
      • Marquette is located in Green Lake County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 154 people
  • Iowa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • Cassell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cassell. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassell
      • Cassell is located in Iowa County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cassell
      • From Arlington to Cassell
    • Arena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • Waterloo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waterloo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
      • Waterloo is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,322 people
    • Lake Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Mills
      • Lake Mills is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,014 people
    • Lake Ripley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marquette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • Douglas Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Endeavor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Endeavor have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Endeavor
      • Endeavor is located in Marquette County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 464 people
    • Glen Oak
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Packwaukee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Sauk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.
    • Merrimac
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrimac have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
      • Merrimac is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
    • Moon Valley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Prairie du Sac village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Sauk City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sauk City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sauk City
      • Sauk City is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,498 people
    • Baraboo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • West Baraboo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Baraboo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Baraboo
      • West Baraboo is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,416 people
    • Denzer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • North Freedom
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Freedom have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Freedom
      • North Freedom is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
    • Witwen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Lake Delton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Delton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Delton
      • Lake Delton is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,986 people
    • Leland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Leland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
      • Leland is located in Sauk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Leland
      • From Arlington to Leland
    • Rock Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rock Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Springs
      • Rock Springs is located in Sauk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Arlington, see our County-by-County Page for Arlington.

Cemeteries Near Arlington ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Arlington.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Arlington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Arlington had a population of 167 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Arlington had a population of 818 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Arlington, with the one closest to Arlington listed first.

  • North Leeds
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Poynette
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Leeds
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leeds have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
    • Leeds is located in Columbia County
  • Lowville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lowville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowville
    • Lowville is located in Columbia County
  • Morrisonville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Norway Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norway Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway Grove
    • Norway Grove is located in Dane County
  • DeForest
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Keyeser
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Keyeser. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
    • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Keyeser
    • From Arlington to Keyeser
  • Lodi
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Dane
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dane have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dane
    • Dane is located in Dane County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
  • Windsor
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • North Bristol
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Dekorra
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dekorra have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekorra
      • Dekorra is located in Columbia County
    • Rio
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rio have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
      • Rio is located in Columbia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
    • Okee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Arlington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Arlington.

Newspapers Published in Arlington ...

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 201 newspapers that have been published in the area around Arlington.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Arlington, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Arlington.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Arlington:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Arlington. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Columbia County: www.co.columbia.wi.us/

The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>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.
<4>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 Arlington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Arlington) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Arlington. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.3376, Longitude: -89.3753    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025