RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Wisconsin >> Sheboygan County >> Random Lake >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Wisconsin

The Commemorative Quarter for Wisconsin





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 Random Lake (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 Random Lake. 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 Random Lake ...

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 have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Random Lake: Random Lk.

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 and hospitals 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.

Random Lake is located in Sheboygan County.

To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sheboygan County: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Ozaukee & Washington.

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

  • Sheboygan County     (The home county of Random Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Random Lake, with the one closest to Random Lake listed first.
    • Adell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Adell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adell
      • Adell is located in Sheboygan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
    • Cedar Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
      • Cedar Grove is located in Sheboygan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,115 people
    • Cascade
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Waldo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Oostburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ourtown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Plymouth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Sheboygan Falls
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Kohler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Glenbeulah
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glenbeulah have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenbeulah
      • Glenbeulah is located in Sheboygan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
    • Johnsonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Sheboygan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Elkhart Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elkhart Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhart Lake
      • Elkhart Lake is located in Sheboygan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
  • Calumet County
    • New Holstein
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New Holstein have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Holstein
      • New Holstein is located in Calumet County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,105 people
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Random Lake, with the one closest to Random Lake listed first.
    • Lomira
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Theresa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Brownsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brownsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
      • Brownsville is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • Huilsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Knowles
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Rubicon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Mayville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mayville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayville
      • Mayville is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,829 people
    • Woodland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Iron Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Kekoskee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kekoskee have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kekoskee
      • Kekoskee is located in Dodge County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 891 people
    • Neda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Fond du Lac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Random Lake, with the one closest to Random Lake listed first.
    • New Fane
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • New Prospect
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Kewaskum
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kewaskum have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kewaskum
      • Kewaskum is located in Fond du Lac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,296 people
    • Armstrong
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Graham Corners
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Campbellsport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Elmore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elmore. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
      • Elmore is located in Fond du Lac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Elmore
      • From Random Lake to Elmore
    • Banner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Kilian
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Dotyville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dotyville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotyville
      • Dotyville is located in Fond du Lac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Dotyville
      • From Random Lake to Dotyville
    • Ashford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Saint Cloud
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Eden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eden have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
      • Eden is located in Fond du Lac County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 943 people
  • Manitowoc County
  • Milwaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Random Lake, with the one closest to Random Lake listed first.
    • Bayside
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayside have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayside
      • Bayside is located in Milwaukee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,326 people
    • Brown Deer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brown Deer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Deer
      • Brown Deer is located in Milwaukee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,191 people
    • River Hills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for River Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Hills
      • River Hills is located in Milwaukee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,575 people
    • Fox Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fox Point have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Point
      • Fox Point is located in Milwaukee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,628 people
    • West Granville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Glendale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glendale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
      • Glendale is located in Milwaukee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,775 people
    • Whitefish Bay
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Ozaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Random Lake, with the one closest to Random Lake listed first.
    • Kohler
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fredonia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fredonia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
      • Fredonia is located in Ozaukee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,251 people
    • Waubeka
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Belgium
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Holy Cross
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sauk Trail Beach
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Lake Church
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Saukville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saukville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saukville
      • Saukville is located in Ozaukee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,437 people
    • Port Washington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Horns Corners
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Grafton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Ulao
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ulao. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulao
      • Ulao is located in Ozaukee County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ulao
      • From Random Lake to Ulao
    • Cedarburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Washington County
  • Waukesha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Random Lake, with the one closest to Random Lake listed first.
    • Lannon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lannon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lannon
      • Lannon is located in Waukesha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,284 people
    • Menomonee Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Menomonee Falls have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonee Falls
      • Menomonee Falls is located in Waukesha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 38,243 people

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

Cemeteries Near Random Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Random Lake.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Union Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Paul Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Paul Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Emmanuel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Emmanuel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Emmanuel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Paul Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Paul Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Rose Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Rose Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Rose Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pilgrim Rest Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Stephen Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Stephen Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Stephen Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Zion United Methodist Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zion United Methodist Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zion United Methodist Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (223 more) ...
    • St. Johns Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Waubeka Union Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Waubeka Union Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Waubeka Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Union Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Union Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Random Lake had a population of 216 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Random Lake had a population of 1,567 people.

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

  • Dacada
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dacada have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dacada
    • Dacada is located in Ozaukee County
  • Silver Creek
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Creek
    • Silver Creek is located in Sheboygan County
  • Kohler
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Adell
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Adell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adell
    • Adell is located in Sheboygan County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
  • Fredonia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fredonia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
    • Fredonia is located in Ozaukee County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,251 people
  • Fillmore
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Holy Cross
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Belgium
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Hingham
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hingham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hingham
    • Hingham is located in Sheboygan County
  • Boltonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Cascade
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Decker
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Decker have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
    • Decker is located in Ozaukee County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Cedar Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
      • Cedar Grove is located in Sheboygan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,115 people
    • Waldo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Beechwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beechwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
      • Beechwood is located in Sheboygan County

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Random Lake ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Random Lake.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Random Lake. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Random Lake and those printed in the larger area surrounding Random Lake.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3> of Random Lake.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Random Lake:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Random Lake. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Sheboygan County: www.co.sheboygan.wi.us/

The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Random Lake) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Random Lake. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.5537, Longitude: -87.9635    
<4>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.
<5>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 Random Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025