RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Wisconsin >> Columbia County >> Columbus >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Wisconsin

The Commemorative Quarter for Wisconsin





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 Columbus (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 Columbus. 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 doctors 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.

Columbus is primarily located in Columbia County. A portion of Columbus extends into Dodge 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 Columbus. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Columbus:

  • Columbia County     (The home county of Columbus)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Fall River
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Englewood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Otsego
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Doylestown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Keyeser
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • 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 Columbus to Keyeser
    • Rio
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
    • Cambria
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • North Leeds
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Friesland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Friesland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friesland
      • Friesland is located in Columbia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Wyocena
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Arlington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Pardeeville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
    • Poynette
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Dane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • East Bristol
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • North Bristol
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Marshall
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Pierceville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Sun Prairie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
    • DeForest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Morrisonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Windsor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Burke
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 Columbus to Burke
    • Cottage Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Deerfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Cambridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cambridge have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
      • Cambridge is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,538 people
    • Darwin ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 Columbus to Darwin
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Astico
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Reeseville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Lowell
      (9 miles [14.5 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
    • Beaver Dam
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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
    • Randolph
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Clyman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clyman have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyman
      • Clyman is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Juneau
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Fox Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Minnesota Junction
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Burnett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Horicon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Horicon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horicon
      • Horicon is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,680 people
    • Hustisford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hustisford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustisford
      • Hustisford is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,060 people
    • Atwater
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Fond du Lac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Fairwater
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Brandon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Green Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Kingston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Markesan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Markesan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markesan
      • Markesan is located in Green Lake County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,389 people
    • Utley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Utley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utley
      • Utley is located in Green Lake County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Utley
      • From Columbus to Utley
    • Marquette
      (28 miles [45.1 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
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Waterloo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Watertown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Grellton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Milford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Mills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Johnson Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Ripley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Farmington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Farmington. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
      • Farmington is located in Jefferson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Farmington
      • From Columbus to Farmington
    • Ixonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ixonia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ixonia
      • Ixonia is located in Jefferson County
    • Jefferson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jefferson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
      • Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,037 people
    • Concord
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Concord have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
      • Concord is located in Jefferson County
    • Helenville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Lac La Belle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lac La Belle have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lac La Belle
      • Lac La Belle is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
  • Sauk County
    • Merrimac
      (30 miles [48.3 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
  • Waukesha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Columbus, with the one closest to Columbus listed first.
    • Monterey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Oconomowoc
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oconomowoc have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oconomowoc
      • Oconomowoc is located in Waukesha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,160 people

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

Cemeteries Near Columbus ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Columbus.

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 Columbus covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • St. Jeromes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Fall River Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Okeag Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Okeag Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Okeag Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Elba Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Elba Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Elba Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • North York Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the North York Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the North York Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • East York Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the East York Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the East York Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Austin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Austin Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Austin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Salem Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Salem Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Salem Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethany Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethany Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oak Lawn Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oak Lawn Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oak Lawn Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (273 more) ...

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Columbus had a population of 2,367 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Columbus had a population of 5,117 people.

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

  • Fall River
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Danville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Danville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
    • Danville is located in Dodge County
  • East Bristol
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Reeseville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Lost Lake
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lost Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Lake
    • Lost Lake is located in Dodge County
  • Otsego
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Lowell
    (9 miles [14.5 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
  • Doylestown
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Waterloo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • 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
  • North Bristol
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Deansville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deansville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deansville
    • Deansville is located in Dane County
  • Keyeser
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • 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 Columbus to Keyeser
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Marshall
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Hubbleton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hubbleton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbleton
      • Hubbleton is located in Jefferson County
    • Beaver Dam
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Columbus ...

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 163 newspapers that have been published in the area around Columbus.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Columbus. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Columbus and those printed in the larger area surrounding Columbus.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4> of Columbus.

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 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 Columbus:

The official website for Columbus: www.cityofcolumbuswi.com/

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Columbus) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Columbus. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.3383, Longitude: -89.0147    
<5>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 Columbus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025