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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 Footville (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 Footville. 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.

Footville is located in Rock 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 Rock County: Boone (IL), Winnebago (IL), Dane, Green, Jefferson & Walworth.

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

  • Rock County     (The home county of Footville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville listed first.
    • Hanover
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Orfordville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Magnolia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Evansville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Evansville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
      • Evansville is located in Rock County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,556 people
    • Newark
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Newark. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
      • Newark is located in Rock County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Newark
      • From Footville to Newark
    • Janesville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Fulton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Indianford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Indianford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianford
      • Indianford is located in Rock County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Indianford
      • From Footville to Indianford
    • Avon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cooksville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Union
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Union. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Union is located in Rock County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Union
      • From Footville to Union
    • Garden Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Garden Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
      • Garden Village is located in Rock County
  • Dane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville listed first.
    • Dunkirk
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Hanerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hanerville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanerville
      • Hanerville is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hanerville
      • From Footville to Hanerville
    • Brooklyn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brooklyn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
      • Brooklyn is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
    • Stone
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Albion
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Stoughton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stoughton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoughton
      • Stoughton is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,218 people
    • Oregon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oregon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oregon
      • Oregon is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,731 people
    • Belleville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Belleville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
      • Belleville is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,514 people
    • Rockdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rockdale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
      • Rockdale is located in Dane County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
    • Basco
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Hall
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Paoli
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Paoli. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paoli
      • Paoli is located in Dane County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Paoli
      • From Footville to Paoli
  • Green County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville listed first.
    • Brodhead
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brodhead have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
      • Brodhead is located in Green County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
    • Albany
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Albany have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
      • Albany is located in Green County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
    • Mineral Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mineral Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
      • Mineral Point is located in Green County
    • Attica
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dayton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Twin Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Twin Grove. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
      • Twin Grove is located in Green County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Twin Grove
      • From Footville to Twin Grove
    • Monticello
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Monroe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monroe have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
      • Monroe is located in Green County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
    • New Glarus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Browntown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Cadiz
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cadiz. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
      • Cadiz is located in Green County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cadiz
      • From Footville to Cadiz
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville listed first.
    • Carcajou
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Koshkonong
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Koshkonong have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Koshkonong
      • Lake Koshkonong is located in Jefferson County
    • Fort Atkinson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fort Atkinson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Atkinson
      • Fort Atkinson is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,372 people
    • Lake Ripley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cold Spring
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jefferson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jefferson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
  • Walworth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville listed first.
    • Allens Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Richmond
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Darien
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Whitewater
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sharon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sharon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
      • Sharon is located in Walworth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
    • Delavan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Delavan Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delavan Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan Lake
      • Delavan Lake is located in Walworth County
    • Heart Prairie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Boone County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville listed first.
    • Caledonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Poplar Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Timberlane
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timberlane have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
      • Timberlane is located in Boone County (IL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
    • Capron
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Capron have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capron
      • Capron is located in Boone County (IL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,343 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Capron <3>
  • Stephenson County (IL)
  • Winnebago County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville listed first.
    • Shirland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shirland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirland
      • Shirland is located in Winnebago County (IL)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shirland <3>
    • Rockton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • South Beloit
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Beloit have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Beloit
      • South Beloit is located in Winnebago County (IL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,540 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for South Beloit <3>
    • Durand
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Lake Summerset
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Summerset have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
      • Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County (IL)
    • Roscoe
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Roscoe. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Roscoe is located in Winnebago County (IL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,406 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscoe <3>
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Roscoe
      • From Footville to Roscoe
    • Wempletown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wempletown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
      • Wempletown is located in Winnebago County (IL)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wempletown
      • From Footville to Wempletown
    • Machesney Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Machesney Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machesney Park
      • Machesney Park is located in Winnebago County (IL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,678 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Machesney Park <3>
    • Sturbridge Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sturbridge Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County (IL)
    • Argyle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Argyle have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
      • Argyle is located in Winnebago County (IL)
    • Loves Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Loves Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Park
      • Loves Park is located in Winnebago County (IL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,382 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Loves Park <3>
    • Pecatonica
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pecatonica have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecatonica
      • Pecatonica is located in Winnebago County (IL)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,065 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pecatonica <3>

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

Cemeteries Near Footville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Footville.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Footville, with the one closest to Footville 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Footville had a population of 278 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Footville had a population of 822 people.

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

  • Orfordville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hanover
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Cainville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cainville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cainville
    • Cainville is located in Rock County
  • Leyden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leyden have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leyden
    • Leyden is located in Rock County
  • Fellows ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fellows have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fellows
    • Fellows is located in Rock County
  • Magnolia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Newark
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Newark. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
    • Newark is located in Rock County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Newark
    • From Footville to Newark
  • Afton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Afton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton
    • Afton is located in Rock County
  • Evansville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Evansville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
    • Evansville is located in Rock County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,556 people
  • Brodhead
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brodhead have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
    • Brodhead is located in Green County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
  • Janesville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Avon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Indianford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Indianford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianford
      • Indianford is located in Rock County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Indianford
      • From Footville to Indianford
    • Fulton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Union. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Union is located in Rock County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Union
      • From Footville to Union

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Footville ...

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 176 newspapers that have been published in the area around Footville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Footville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Footville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Footville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<6> of Footville.

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 Footville:

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

The official website for Rock County: www.co.rock.wi.us/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>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.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<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 Footville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Footville) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Footville. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.6706, Longitude: -89.2093    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025