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 Keene (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 Keene. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Keene is located in Portage 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 Portage County: Adams, Marathon, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Keene. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Keene:
- Portage County (The home county of Keene)
- The following are listed by their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Arnott
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Arnott is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnott
- Plover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Plover is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,252 people
- Almond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Almond is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
- Blaine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blaine is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
- Whiting
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whiting is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiting
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,704 people
- Custer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Custer is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Amherst Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Amherst Junction is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 392 people
- Lake Emily ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Emily is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Emily
- Park Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Park Ridge is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 496 people
- Amherst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Amherst is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,082 people
- Stevens Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stevens Point is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 25,949 people
- Nelsonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nelsonville is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Ellis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ellis is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Leola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Leola is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leola
- New Rome ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- New Rome is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Rome
- Big Flats
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Big Flats is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Flats
- Pilot Knob ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pilot Knob is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilot Knob
- Arkdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Arkdale is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkdale
- Juneau County
- New Miner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- New Miner is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Miner
- Marathon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Ashley
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ashley is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- Galloway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Galloway is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galloway
- Elderon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Elderon is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elderon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 213 people
- Mosinee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mosinee is located in Marathon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosinee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,195 people
- Marquette County
- Neshkoro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Neshkoro is located in Marquette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neshkoro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people
- Waupaca County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Cobb Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Cobb Town is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Town
- Sheridan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sheridan is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- King
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- King is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Rural
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rural is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural
- Scandinavia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Scandinavia is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scandinavia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
- Waupaca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Waupaca is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waupaca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,857 people
- Iola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Iola is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,190 people
- Ogdensburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ogdensburg is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogdensburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Baldwins Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Baldwins Mill is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwins Mill
- Weyauwega
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Weyauwega is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weyauwega
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,745 people
- Little Wolf ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Little Wolf is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Wolf
- Manawa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Manawa is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manawa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,269 people
- Big Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Big Falls is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Waushara County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Plainfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Plainfield is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 832 people
- Hancock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Hancock is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 402 people
- Wild Rose
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wild Rose is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Rose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 651 people
- Mount Morris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Morris is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Morris
- Saxeville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Saxeville is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxeville
- Wautoma
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wautoma is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wautoma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,114 people
- Coloma
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Coloma is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coloma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 444 people
- Pine River
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pine River is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine River
- Silver Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Lake is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- West Bloomfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- West Bloomfield is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bloomfield
- Lohrville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lohrville is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lohrville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 389 people
- Poy Sippi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Poy Sippi is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poy Sippi
- Redgranite
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Redgranite is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redgranite
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,111 people
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Lake Wazeecha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lake Wazeecha is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wazeecha
- Biron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Biron is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Grand Rapids
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Grand Rapids is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Rapids
- Wisconsin Rapids
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Wisconsin Rapids is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wisconsin Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,555 people
- Rudolph
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rudolph is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudolph
- Population from the 2020 Census: 411 people
- Port Edwards
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Port Edwards is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Edwards
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,752 people
- Nekoosa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Nekoosa is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nekoosa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,391 people
- Eight Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Eight Corners is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eight Corners
- Milladore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Milladore is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milladore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Vesper
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Vesper is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vesper
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
- Sherry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sherry is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherry
- Blenker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Blenker is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blenker
- Arpin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Arpin is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arpin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Keene, see our County-by-County Page for Keene.
Cemeteries Near Keene ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Keene.
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 Keene - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Keene covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Liberty Corners Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Pine Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lombard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- North Almond Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Maine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Morrill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hillside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kimball Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Spiritland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Guardian Angel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (144 more) ...
- Plover Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- East German Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Keene had a population of 46 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Keene, with the one closest to Keene listed first.
- Bancroft
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bancroft is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Arnott
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Arnott is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnott
- Almond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Almond is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
- Fancher
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fancher is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
- Blaine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blaine is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
- Stockton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Meehan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Meehan is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meehan
- Plainfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Plainfield is located in Waushara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 832 people
- Amherst Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Amherst Junction is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst Junction
- Population from the 2020 Census: 392 people
- Lake Emily ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Emily is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Emily
- Custer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Custer is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Stevens Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stevens Point is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 25,949 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Amherst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Amherst is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,082 people
- Nelsonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nelsonville is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Sheridan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sheridan is located in Waupaca County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Keene. See our List of 1890's Communities around Keene.
Newspapers Published in Keene ...
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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Keene.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Keene, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Keene.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Keene:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Portage County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Juneau County
- Marathon County
- Marquette County
- Waupaca County
- Waushara County
- Wood County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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. |
| <2> | 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 Keene, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Keene) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |