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 Lake Mills (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 Lake Mills. 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 Lake Mills ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Lake Mills: Lk. Mills
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Lake Mills. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Lake Mills.
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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Lake Mills is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Dane, Dodge, Rock, Walworth & Waukesha.
Below are the counties that are near Lake Mills. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lake Mills:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Lake Mills)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Milford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Milford is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
- Johnson Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Johnson Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,065 people
- Jefferson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,037 people
- Lake Ripley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Ripley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ripley
- Grellton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Grellton is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grellton
- Waterloo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Waterloo is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,322 people
- Fort Atkinson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fort Atkinson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Atkinson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,372 people
- Farmington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Farmington is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
- Helenville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Helenville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helenville
- Lake Koshkonong
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lake Koshkonong is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Koshkonong
- Watertown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Watertown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23,370 people
- Carcajou
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Carcajou is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carcajou
- Cold Spring
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cold Spring is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Columbus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Columbus is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,117 people
- Fall River
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fall River is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,757 people
- Keyeser
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Keyeser is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
- Englewood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Englewood is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
- Otsego
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Otsego is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otsego
- Doylestown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Doylestown is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doylestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- North Leeds
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Leeds is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leeds
- Arlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Arlington is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 818 people
- Rio
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rio is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
- Dane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Cambridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cambridge is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,538 people
- Deerfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Deerfield is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,540 people
- Rockdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rockdale is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
- Marshall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marshall is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,016 people
- Pierceville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pierceville is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierceville
- Cottage Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cottage Grove is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,158 people
- Edgerton Beach Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Edgerton Beach Park is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton Beach Park
- Albion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Albion is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Door Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Door Creek is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Creek
- Hope
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hope is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
- East Bristol
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- East Bristol is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bristol
- Sun Prairie
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sun Prairie is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 35,119 people
- Hanerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hanerville is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanerville
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Reeseville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Reeseville is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeseville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 673 people
- Astico
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Astico is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astico
- Lowell
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lowell is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
- Clyman
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Clyman is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Ashippun
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ashippun is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashippun
- Hustisford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hustisford is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustisford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,060 people
- Juneau
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Juneau is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juneau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,532 people
- Neosho
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Neosho is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neosho
- Population from the 2020 Census: 543 people
- Beaver Dam
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Beaver Dam is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Dam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,303 people
- Minnesota Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Minnesota Junction is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesota Junction
- Woodland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Horicon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Horicon is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horicon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,680 people
- Iron Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Iron Ridge is located in Dodge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Ridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Rock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Edgerton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Edgerton is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,595 people
- Lima Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lima Center is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima Center
- Milton Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Milton Junction is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton Junction
- Milton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Milton is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,643 people
- Indianford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Indianford is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianford
- Fulton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fulton is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Cooksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cooksville is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
- Johnstown Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Johnstown Center is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown Center
- Johnstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Johnstown is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Janesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Janesville is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64,664 people
- Emerald Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Emerald Grove is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Grove
- Evansville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Evansville is located in Rock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,556 people
- Walworth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Whitewater
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Whitewater is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitewater
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,993 people
- La Grange
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- La Grange is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Little Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Little Prairie is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Prairie
- Heart Prairie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Heart Prairie is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heart Prairie
- Richmond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Richmond is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Adams
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Adams is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Lauderdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lauderdale is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
- Troy Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Troy Center is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy Center
- Washington County
- Thompson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Waukesha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Oconomowoc
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Oconomowoc is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oconomowoc
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,160 people
- Monterey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Monterey is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Summit
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Summit is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,255 people
- Dousman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dousman is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dousman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
- Oconomowoc Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Oconomowoc Lake is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oconomowoc Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Summit Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Summit Center is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Center
- Okauchee Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Okauchee Lake is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okauchee Lake
- Waterville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Waterville is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterville
- Okauchee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Okauchee is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okauchee
- Ottawa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ottawa is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
- Nashotah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Nashotah is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashotah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,361 people
- Stonebank
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Stonebank is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonebank
- Eagle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Eagle is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,193 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lake Mills, see our County-by-County Page for Lake Mills.
Cemeteries Near Lake Mills ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lake Mills.
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 Lake Mills - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lake Mills covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Rock Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Aztalan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Newville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Neville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- North Oakland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lake Ripley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Church Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Road Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Island Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (257 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- St. John Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Lake Mills had a population of 1,053 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Lake Mills had a population of 6,014 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lake Mills, with the one closest to Lake Mills listed first.
- Aztalan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Aztalan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aztalan
- Milford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Milford is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
- London
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- London is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Cambridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cambridge is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,538 people
- Jefferson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,037 people
- Jefferson Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson Junction is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Junction
- Johnson Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Johnson Creek is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,065 people
- Deerfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Deerfield is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,540 people
- Waterloo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Waterloo is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,322 people
- Hubbleton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hubbleton is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbleton
- Rockdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rockdale is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
- Fort Atkinson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fort Atkinson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Atkinson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,372 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Marshall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marshall is located in Dane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,016 people
- Helenville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Helenville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helenville
- Farmington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Farmington is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lake Mills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lake Mills.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Lake Mills ...
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 145 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lake Mills.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Lake Mills. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Lake Mills and those printed in the larger area surrounding Lake Mills.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3> of Lake Mills.
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 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 Lake Mills:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Columbia County
- Dane County
- Dodge County
- Rock County
- Walworth County
- Washington County
- Waukesha 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 Lake Mills, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Lake Mills) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |