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 Richardson (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 Richardson. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Richardson is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Chisago (MN), Washington (MN), Barron, Burnett, Dunn & Saint Croix.
Below are the counties that are near Richardson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Richardson:
- Polk County (The home county of Richardson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Clayton
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Clayton is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
- Clear Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,099 people
- Amery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Amery is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,799 people
- Volga ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Volga is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
- Deronda
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Deronda is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deronda
- Bunyan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bunyan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunyan
- Balsam Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Balsam Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balsam Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 978 people
- Centuria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Centuria is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centuria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 905 people
- Horse Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Horse Creek is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Creek
- Milltown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Milltown is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 875 people
- Luck
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Luck is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luck
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
- Dresser
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dresser is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 864 people
- Saint Croix Falls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Croix Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Croix Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Barron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Turtle Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Turtle Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Twin Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Twin Town is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Town
- Almena
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Almena is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
- Prairie Farm
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Farm is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Farm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 434 people
- Poskin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Poskin is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poskin
- Hillsdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hillsdale is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Barron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Barron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
- Cumberland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cumberland is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,097 people
- Dallas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Dallas is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Cameron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cameron is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,798 people
- Rice Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rice Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,498 people
- Chetek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chetek is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chetek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
- Haugen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Haugen is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haugen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Dunn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Ridgeland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeland is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Downing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Downing is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Boyceville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Boyceville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,124 people
- Wheeler
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Knapp
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Knapp is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knapp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Tainter Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tainter Lake is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tainter Lake
- Saint Croix County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Deer Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Park is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
- Glenwood City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Glenwood City is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,214 people
- Star Prairie
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Star Prairie is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- Erin Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Erin Corner is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin Corner
- New Richmond
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- New Richmond is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Richmond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,730 people
- Hersey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hersey is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
- Baldwin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Baldwin is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,078 people
- Wilson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wilson is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
- Woodville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Woodville is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,351 people
- Hammond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,890 people
- Somerset
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Somerset is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,992 people
- Roberts
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Roberts is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roberts
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,018 people
- Burkhardt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Burkhardt is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkhardt
- Chisago County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Taylors Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Franconia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Franconia is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franconia
- Shafer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Almelund
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Center City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Washington County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Otisville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Otisville is located in Washington County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisville
- Marine-on-Saint-Croix
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Scandia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Richardson, see our County-by-County Page for Richardson.
Cemeteries Near Richardson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Richardson.
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 Richardson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Richardson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Clayton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- West Clayton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Peace Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Charles Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Ann Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Reeve Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Elim Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bethany Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (133 more) ...
- St. Marys Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Amery Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lake View Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Richardson had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Clayton
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Clayton is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
- Joel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Joel is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joel
- Clear Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,099 people
- Turtle Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Turtle Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Amery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Amery is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,799 people
- Volga ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Volga is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
- Almena
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Almena is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
- Little Falls
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Little Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Deronda
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Deronda is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deronda
- Deer Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Park is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
- Prairie Farm
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Farm is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Farm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 434 people
- Comstock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Comstock is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Bunyan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bunyan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunyan
- Cylon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cylon is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cylon
- Balsam Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Balsam Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balsam Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 978 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Richardson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Richardson.
Newspapers Published in Richardson ...
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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Richardson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Richardson, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Richardson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Richardson:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barron County
- Dunn County
- Saint Croix County
- Chisago County
- Washington 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Richardson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Richardson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |