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 Colfax (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 Colfax. 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 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.
Colfax is located in Dunn 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 Dunn County: Barron, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk & Saint Croix.
Below are the counties that are near Colfax. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colfax:
- Dunn County (The home county of Colfax)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Tainter Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Tainter Lake is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tainter Lake
- Elk Mound
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Elk Mound is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Wheeler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Menomonie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,599 people
- Falls City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Falls City is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Boyceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Boyceville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,124 people
- Ridgeland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ridgeland is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Knapp
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Knapp is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knapp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Meridean
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Meridean is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridean
- Rock Falls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Rock Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Downing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Downing is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Dunnville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dunnville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnville
- Eau Galle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Eau Galle is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Galle
- Barron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Dallas
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Dallas is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Prairie Farm
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Farm is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Farm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 434 people
- Chetek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Chetek is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chetek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
- Hillsdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Barron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Barron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
- Cameron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cameron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,798 people
- Twin Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Town is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Town
- Poskin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Poskin is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poskin
- Buffalo County
- Mondovi
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mondovi is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mondovi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,562 people
- Chippewa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Albertville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Albertville is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albertville
- Bloomer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bloomer is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,508 people
- Irvine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Irvine is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine
- Chippewa Falls
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Chippewa Falls is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,407 people
- New Auburn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Auburn is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Lake Hallie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Hallie is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Hallie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,779 people
- Eagleton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eagleton is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagleton
- Lake Wissota
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Wissota is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wissota
- Drywood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Drywood is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drywood
- Cadott
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cadott is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,411 people
- Cornell
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Eau Claire County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Eau Claire
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shawtown is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawtown
- Lufkin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lufkin is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lufkin
- Seymour
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Seymour is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Altoona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Altoona is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,062 people
- Fall Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fall Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- Allen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Allen is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Pepin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Durand
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Arkansaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arkansaw is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansaw
- Pierce County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Elmwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elmwood is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 790 people
- Spring Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Olivet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Olivet is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Saint Croix County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Glenwood City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Glenwood City is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,214 people
- Wilson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Wilson is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
- Hersey
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hersey is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
- Woodville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Woodville is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,351 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Colfax, see our County-by-County Page for Colfax.
Cemeteries Near Colfax ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colfax.
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 Colfax - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Colfax covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hill Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lower Running Valley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Norton Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cooks Valley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Otter Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Falls Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Popple Creek Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Upper Popple Creek Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Potters Field Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- St. John Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (161 more) ...
- Iron Creek Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tollebu Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<1>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Colfax had a population of 269 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Colfax had a population of 1,151 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
- Cedar Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Falls
- Rusk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rusk is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
- Elk Mound
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Elk Mound is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Wheeler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Menomonie Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Menomonie Junction is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie Junction
- Sand Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sand Creek is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Creek
- North Menomonie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Menomonie
- Menomonie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,599 people
- Truax
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Truax is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truax
- Irvine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Irvine is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine
- Boyceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Boyceville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,124 people
- Shawtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shawtown is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawtown
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Eau Claire
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Claire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69,087 people
- Chippewa Falls
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Chippewa Falls is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,407 people
- Eagle Point
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Eagle Point is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Colfax. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colfax.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Colfax ...
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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colfax.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Colfax. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Colfax and those printed in the larger area surrounding Colfax.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2> of Colfax.
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 Colfax:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Dunn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barron County
- Buffalo County
- Chippewa County
- Eau Claire County
- Pepin County
- Pierce County
- Saint Croix County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Colfax, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Colfax) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |