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 Branstad (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 Branstad. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Branstad is located in Burnett 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 Burnett County: Chisago (MN), Pine (MN), Barron, Douglas, Polk & Washburn.
Below are the counties that are near Branstad. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Branstad:
- Burnett County (The home county of Branstad)
- The following are listed by their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- Grantsburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Grantsburg is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,296 people
- Alpha
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Alpha is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Randall
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Randall is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Siren
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Siren is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siren
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Webster
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Webster is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 620 people
- Hertel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hertel is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hertel
- Bashaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bashaw is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bashaw
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- Atlas
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Atlas is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Frederic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Frederic is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
- Luck
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Luck is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luck
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
- Milltown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Milltown is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 875 people
- Clam Falls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Clam Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Falls
- Centuria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Centuria is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centuria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 905 people
- Saint Croix Falls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Saint Croix Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Croix Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Balsam Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Balsam Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balsam Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 978 people
- Bunyan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bunyan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunyan
- Dresser
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dresser is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 864 people
- Osceola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Osceola is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,580 people
- Volga ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Volga is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
- Chisago County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- Rush City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Almelund
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Harris
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Taylors Falls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Branch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Branch is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Center City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Shafer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Franconia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Franconia is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franconia
- Lindstrom
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Chisago City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Stacy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stacy is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,525 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stacy <1>
- Isanti County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- Braham
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Stanchfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Grandy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Minnesota Boys Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Minnesota Boys Town is located in Isanti County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Boys Town
- Weber
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Weber is located in Isanti County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Cambridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Elm Park is located in Isanti County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Park
- Kanabec County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- Grasston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Quamba
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Quamba is located in Kanabec County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quamba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Coin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Coin is located in Kanabec County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coin
- Mora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mora is located in Kanabec County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,583 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mora <1>
- Pine County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- Rock Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pine City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beroun
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Beroun is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beroun
- Cloverdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cloverdale is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Henriette
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Henriette is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henriette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Hinckley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brook Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Brook Park is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 132 people
- Duxbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Duxbury is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duxbury
- Sandstone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Branstad, see our County-by-County Page for Branstad.
Cemeteries Near Branstad ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Branstad.
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 Branstad - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Branstad covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- St. Olaf Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wood River Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Logging Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wood Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Lake Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Wood Lake Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southwest of Alpha.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #89551 <3>
- Anscarius Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wood River Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Freya Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Heinrich Pioneer Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Old Settlers Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeview Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lakeview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the west of Siren.
- The Lakeview Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mud Hen Lake Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #88516 <3>
- Continue List (128 more) ...
- Gee Family Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Haustrup Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Milburn Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
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>
While we didn't find Branstad in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Branstad.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Branstad, with the one closest to Branstad listed first.
- Grantsburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Grantsburg is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,296 people
- Trade Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Trade Lake is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade Lake
- Randall
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Randall is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Rock Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cushing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cushing is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
- Wolf Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wolf Creek is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Rush City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- West Denmark
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- West Denmark is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denmark
- Sunrise
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sunrise is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise
- Pine City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Harris
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Almelund
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Kost
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kost is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kost
- Clam Falls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Clam Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Falls
- North Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Branstad. See our List of 1890's Communities around Branstad.
Newspapers Published in Branstad ...
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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Branstad.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Branstad, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Branstad.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Branstad:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Burnett County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Polk County
- Chisago County
- Isanti County
- Kanabec County
- Pine 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Branstad) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Branstad, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |