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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 Ottawa (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 Ottawa. 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 doctors and 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.

Ottawa is located in Waukesha 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 Waukesha County: Dodge, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth & Washington.

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

  • Waukesha County     (The home county of Ottawa)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Dousman
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Dousman is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dousman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
    • Waterville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • North Prairie
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • North Prairie is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,236 people
    • Genesee Depot
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Genesee
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Genesee is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genesee
    • Wales
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Wales is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,651 people
    • Summit
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Summit Center
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Eagle
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Delafield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Delafield is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delafield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,559 people
    • Nashotah
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Eagleville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Dane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Cambridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Cambridge is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,538 people
    • Edgerton Beach Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Rockdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Rockdale is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Ashippun
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Neosho
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Rubicon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Hustisford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Hustisford is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustisford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,060 people
    • Clyman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Clyman is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Woodland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Huilsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Iron Ridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Reeseville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Sullivan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Sullivan is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 666 people
    • Concord
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Palmyra
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Palmyra is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,746 people
    • Rome
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Rome is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Lake Lac La Belle
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Lac La Belle is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Lac La Belle
    • Lac La Belle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Lac La Belle is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lac La Belle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
    • Hebron
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Hebron is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Helenville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Farmington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Ixonia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Ixonia is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ixonia
    • Cold Spring
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Johnson Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Kenosha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Slades Corners
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Brighton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Powers Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Powers Lake is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers Lake
  • Milwaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Hales Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Hales Corners is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Corners
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,553 people
    • Saint Martins
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Union Church
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Greendale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Greendale is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,127 people
    • Greenfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Wauwatosa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • West Allis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Franklin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Franklin is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,925 people
    • West Granville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • West Milwaukee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • West Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milwaukee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,090 people
    • Milwaukee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Brown Deer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brown Deer is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Deer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,191 people
  • Ozaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Freistadt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Mequon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Thiensville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Racine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.
    • Caldwell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Honey Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Wind Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Waterford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Waterford is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,618 people
    • Rochester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Browns Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Browns Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Lake
    • Burlington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Burlington is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,898 people
    • Eagle Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Eagle Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
    • Kneeland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bohners Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Bohners Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bohners Lake
    • Raymond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Yorkville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Yorkville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
  • Rock County
  • Walworth County
  • Washington County

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

Cemeteries Near Ottawa ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ottawa.

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 Ottawa - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ottawa covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ottawa, with the one closest to Ottawa listed first.

  • Ottawa Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • North Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Jerusalem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Brunos Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Genesee Village Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Oak Knoll Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Melindas Prairie Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Tabernacle Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. John Chrysostom Episcopalian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Summit Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (303 more) ...
    • Zion Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • St. Theresa Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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 Ottawa had a population of 67 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Dousman
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Dousman is located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dousman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
  • North Prairie
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • North Prairie is located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,236 people
  • Waterville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Genesee
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Genesee is located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genesee
  • Genesee Depot
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Wales
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Wales is located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,651 people
  • Summit Center
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Eagle
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Oak Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Oak Hill is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
  • Delafield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Delafield is located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delafield
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,559 people
  • Nashotah
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Palmyra
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Palmyra is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,746 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Mukwonago
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Mukwonago is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mukwonago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,107 people
    • Pewaukee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pewaukee is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pewaukee
    • Hartland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hartland is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,338 people

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

Newspapers Published in Ottawa ...

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 154 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ottawa.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ottawa, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ottawa.

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 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 Ottawa:

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 Ottawa, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Ottawa) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.