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 North Branch (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 North Branch. 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 North Branch ...
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 North Branch: N. Branch
You might be interested in other communities that are also named North Branch. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for North Branch.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the 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 west 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.
North Branch is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Clark, Eau Claire, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near North Branch. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to North Branch:
- Jackson County (The home county of North Branch)
- The following are listed by their distance from North Branch, with the one closest to North Branch listed first.
- Alma Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Alma Center is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 491 people
- Hixton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hixton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hixton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
- Sechlerville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sechlerville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sechlerville
- York
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- York is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Merrillan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Merrillan is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrillan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Levis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Levis is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levis
- Taylor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Taylor is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 473 people
- Requa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Requa is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Requa
- Black River Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Black River Falls is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,454 people
- Hatfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hatfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Melrose
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Melrose is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Millston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Millston is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Buffalo County
- Lookout
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lookout is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Branch, with the one closest to North Branch listed first.
- Humbird
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Humbird is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humbird
- Neillsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Neillsville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neillsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,375 people
- Globe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Globe is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Willard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Willard is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Granton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Granton is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Greenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 995 people
- Crawford County
- Lynxville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lynxville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 125 people
- Eau Claire County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Branch, with the one closest to North Branch listed first.
- Fairchild
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fairchild is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairchild
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Hay Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Hay Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hay Creek
- Augusta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Augusta is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
- Allen
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Allen is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Fall Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fall Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- La Crosse County
- Mindoro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mindoro is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindoro
- Trempealeau County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Branch, with the one closest to North Branch listed first.
- Pigeon Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pigeon Falls is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Osseo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Osseo is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osseo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,671 people
- Coral City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Coral City is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coral City
- Blair
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blair is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,330 people
- Whitehall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Whitehall is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,565 people
- Strum
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Strum is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,071 people
- Independence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Independence is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- New City ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New City is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
- Ettrick
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ettrick is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ettrick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 511 people
- Russell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Russell is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Eleva
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Eleva is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleva
- Population from the 2020 Census: 661 people
- Frenchville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Frenchville is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to North Branch, see our County-by-County Page for North Branch.
Cemeteries Near North Branch ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of North Branch.
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 North Branch - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for North Branch covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from North Branch, with the one closest to North Branch listed first.
- West Garden Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Pole Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Stanford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Smallpox Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Diphtheria Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Curtis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Trinity Rest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- East Lawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Mary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sechlerville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Houghtonburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (120 more) ...
- Pigeon Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Big Slough Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Curran Coulee Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, North Branch had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from North Branch, with the one closest to North Branch listed first.
- Hixton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hixton is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hixton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
- Alma Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Alma Center is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 491 people
- Sechlerville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sechlerville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sechlerville
- Northfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Northfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northfield
- Humbird
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Humbird is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humbird
- York
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- York is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Merrillan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Merrillan is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrillan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 522 people
- Levis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Levis is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levis
- Price
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Price is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
- Fairchild
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fairchild is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairchild
- Population from the 2020 Census: 607 people
- Pigeon Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pigeon Falls is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Black River Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Black River Falls is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,454 people
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Hatfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hatfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
- Hale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hale is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale
- Osseo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Osseo is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osseo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,671 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around North Branch. See our List of 1890's Communities around North Branch.
Newspapers Published in North Branch ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around North Branch.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of North Branch, 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 North Branch.
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 helpful 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 North Branch:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buffalo County
- Clark County
- Crawford County
- Eau Claire County
- La Crosse County
- Trempealeau 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 North Branch, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- North Branch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |