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 Portland (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 Portland. 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 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.
Portland is located in Monroe 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 Monroe County: Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse & Vernon.
Below are the counties that are near Portland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Portland:
- Monroe County (The home county of Portland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Melvina
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Melvina is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Cashton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cashton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,111 people
- Norwalk
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Norwalk is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwalk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Sparta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sparta is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,800 people
- Oil City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Oil City is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Angelo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Angelo is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angelo
- Wilton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wilton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 498 people
- Tunnel City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tunnel City is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel City
- Tomah
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Tomah is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,363 people
- Kendall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Kendall is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Clifton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Oakdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oakdale is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 290 people
- Valley Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Junction is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Rising Sun
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Rising Sun is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Sun
- Towerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Towerville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Towerville
- Soldiers Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Soldiers Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soldiers Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
- Freeman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Freeman is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- De Soto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- De Soto is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Soto
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Gays Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gays Mills is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- North Bend
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Bend is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bend
- Melrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Melrose is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Juneau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Elroy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Elroy is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elroy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,306 people
- Hustler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hustler is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 190 people
- Union Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Union Center is located in Juneau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
- La Crosse County
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Middle Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Middle Ridge is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Ridge
- Rockland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Rockland is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 710 people
- Saint Joseph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Saint Joseph is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- Bangor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bangor is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,442 people
- Barre Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Barre Mills is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barre Mills
- West Salem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Salem is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,013 people
- Shelby
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Shelby is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Grand Crossing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Grand Crossing is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Crossing
- La Crosse
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- La Crosse is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51,163 people
- Onalaska
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Onalaska is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onalaska
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,108 people
- North La Crosse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- North La Crosse is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North La Crosse
- Mindoro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mindoro is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindoro
- French Island
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- French Island is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Island
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Viola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Viola is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 665 people
- Yuba
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yuba is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Bloom City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloom City is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloom City
- Sabin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sabin is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabin
- Woodstock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodstock is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Vernon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Newry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Newry is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newry
- Westby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Westby is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,254 people
- Coon Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coon Valley is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Ontario
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ontario is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
- Population from the 2020 Census: 561 people
- Viroqua
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Viroqua is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viroqua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,394 people
- Chaseburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chaseburg is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaseburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Newton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Newton is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- La Farge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- La Farge is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Farge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 763 people
- Liberty
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Liberty Pole
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Liberty Pole is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Pole
- Purdy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Purdy is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Stoddard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stoddard is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoddard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 831 people
- Mount Tabor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mount Tabor is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor
- Allamakee County (IA)
- New Albin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Houston County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Brownsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 505 people
- La Crescent
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Reno
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Reno is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Hokah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Winona County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Dakota
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dakota is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dakota
- Population from the 2020 Census: 307 people
- Nodine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Nodine is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nodine
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Portland, see our County-by-County Page for Portland.
Cemeteries Near Portland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Portland.
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 Portland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Portland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Moen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rest Haven Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Hollow Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Our Saviours Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- North Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bethesda Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Welsh Calvanistic Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Welsh Congregational Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (207 more) ...
- Leon Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Coon Prairie Lutheran Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Home Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Portland in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Portland.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Portland, with the one closest to Portland listed first.
- Newry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Newry is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newry
- Cashton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cashton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,111 people
- Melvina
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Melvina is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Middle Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Middle Ridge is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Ridge
- Westby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Westby is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,254 people
- Leon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Leon is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Saint Marys
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Saint Marys is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Marys
- Coon Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coon Valley is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coon Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 782 people
- Rockland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Rockland is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 710 people
- Bloomingdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomingdale is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingdale
- Saint Joseph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Saint Joseph is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- Esofea
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Esofea is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esofea
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Avalanche
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Avalanche is located in Vernon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalanche
- Norwalk
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Norwalk is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwalk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Sparta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sparta is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,800 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Portland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Portland.
Newspapers Published in Portland ...
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 166 newspapers that have been published in the area around Portland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Portland, 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 Portland.
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 either 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 Portland:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Monroe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Jackson County
- Juneau County
- La Crosse County
- Richland County
- Vernon County
- Allamakee County
- Houston County
- Winona County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Portland, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Portland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |