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 Germantown (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 Germantown. 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.
Name Variations for Germantown ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: German Town.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Germantown. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Germantown.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Germantown is located in Richland 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 Richland County: Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Sauk & Vernon.
Below are the counties that are near Germantown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Germantown:
- Richland County (The home county of Germantown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Cazenovia
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Cazenovia is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazenovia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Hub City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hub City is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City
- Neptune
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Neptune is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Woodstock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Woodstock is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Yuba
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Yuba is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Bloom City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bloom City is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloom City
- Ithaca
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Ithaca is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ithaca
- Gillingham
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gillingham is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillingham
- Aubrey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Aubrey is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aubrey
- Bear Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Bear Valley is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Richland Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Richland Center is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,949 people
- Sextonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sextonville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sextonville
- Sabin
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sabin is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabin
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Plainville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Plainville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainville
- Quincy ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Quincy is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Easton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Easton is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Columbia County
- Wisconsin Dells
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wisconsin Dells is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wisconsin Dells
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,061 people
- Crawford County
- Soldiers Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Soldiers Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soldiers Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Muscoda
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Muscoda is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscoda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
- Blue River
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blue River is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
- Iowa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Avoca
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Avoca is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 620 people
- Helena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Helena is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Cassell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cassell is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassell
- Arena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arena is located in Iowa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 831 people
- Juneau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Wonewoc
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wonewoc is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wonewoc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 789 people
- Union Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Union Center is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
- Elroy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Elroy is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elroy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,306 people
- Mauston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mauston is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,358 people
- Lemonweir
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lemonweir is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemonweir
- Lyndon Station
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lyndon Station is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyndon Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 485 people
- Hustler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hustler is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 190 people
- New Lisbon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- New Lisbon is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,547 people
- Camp Douglas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Camp Douglas is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Douglas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 625 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Kendall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Kendall is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Oil City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Oil City is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Clifton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Clifton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Wilton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 498 people
- Norwalk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Norwalk is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwalk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Sauk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Ironton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ironton is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Lime Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lime Ridge is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- La Valle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- La Valle is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Valle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 360 people
- Sandusky
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sandusky is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Loganville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loganville is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 297 people
- Reedsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Reedsburg is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,500 people
- Rock Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Rock Springs is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- North Freedom
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- North Freedom is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Freedom
- Population from the 2020 Census: 690 people
- Leland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Leland is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Plain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Plain is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 765 people
- Denzer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Denzer is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denzer
- Lake Delton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lake Delton is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Delton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,986 people
- West Baraboo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Baraboo is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Baraboo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,416 people
- Vernon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Hillsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,387 people
- White City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- White City is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Trippville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Trippville is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trippville
- Mount Tabor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Tabor is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor
- La Farge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- La Farge is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Farge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 763 people
- Ontario
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ontario is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Population from the 2020 Census: 561 people
- Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Readstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Readstown is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Readstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Germantown, see our County-by-County Page for Germantown.
Cemeteries Near Germantown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Germantown.
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 Germantown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Germantown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- St. Anthony Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Anthony Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Bridget Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Cazenovia Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Norwegian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Friendswood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Oaks Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Concord Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Big Willow Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Thornton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Karstetter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (235 more) ...
- Resting Green Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Soules Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Germantown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Germantown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Germantown, with the one closest to Germantown listed first.
- Cazenovia
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Cazenovia is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazenovia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Ironton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ironton is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
- Valton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Valton is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valton
- Lime Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lime Ridge is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- La Valle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- La Valle is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Valle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 360 people
- Hub City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hub City is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City
- Loyd
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Loyd is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
- Rockbridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rockbridge is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockbridge
- Henrietta ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Henrietta is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Sandusky
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sandusky is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Woodstock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Woodstock is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Buck Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Buck Creek is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Creek
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Neptune
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Neptune is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Loganville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loganville is located in Sauk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 297 people
- Hillsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,387 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Germantown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Germantown.
Newspapers Published in Germantown ...
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 134 newspapers that have been published in the area around Germantown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Germantown, 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 Germantown.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Germantown:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Richland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Columbia County
- Crawford County
- Grant County
- Iowa County
- Juneau County
- Monroe County
- Sauk County
- Vernon 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 Germantown, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Germantown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |