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 Rusk (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 Rusk. 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 northwest 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 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.
Rusk is located in Dunn 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 Dunn County: Barron, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk & Saint Croix.
Below are the counties that are near Rusk. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rusk:
- Dunn County (The home county of Rusk)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Menomonie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,599 people
- Tainter Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Tainter Lake is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tainter Lake
- Elk Mound
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Elk Mound is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Colfax
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Colfax is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,151 people
- Falls City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Falls City is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls City
- Wheeler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Meridean
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Meridean is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridean
- Knapp
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Knapp is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knapp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Boyceville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Boyceville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,124 people
- Dunnville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dunnville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnville
- Rock Falls
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
- Downing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Downing is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downing
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Barron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Prairie Farm
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Prairie Farm is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Farm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 434 people
- Dallas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Dallas is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Hillsdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Chetek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Chetek is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chetek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
- Buffalo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Mondovi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Mondovi is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mondovi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,562 people
- Springdale ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Springdale is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Maxville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Maxville is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
- Savoy ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Savoy is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
- Chippewa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Albertville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Albertville is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albertville
- Irvine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Irvine is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvine
- Lake Hallie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lake Hallie is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Hallie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,779 people
- Chippewa Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Chippewa Falls is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,407 people
- Bloomer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bloomer is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,508 people
- Eagleton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Eagleton is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagleton
- New Auburn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- New Auburn is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 576 people
- Lake Wissota
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Wissota is located in Chippewa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wissota
- Eau Claire County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Lufkin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lufkin is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lufkin
- Shawtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shawtown is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawtown
- Eau Claire
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eau Claire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69,087 people
- Altoona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Altoona is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,062 people
- Seymour
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Seymour is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymour
- Allen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Allen is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Fall Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Fall Creek is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- Pepin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Durand
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Durand is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,789 people
- Arkansaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Arkansaw is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansaw
- Ella
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ella is located in Pepin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
- Pierce County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Elmwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elmwood is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 790 people
- Spring Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,323 people
- Olivet
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Olivet is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Waverly
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Waverly is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Plum City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Plum City is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- El Paso
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- El Paso is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Paso
- Martell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Martell is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martell
- Saint Croix County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Wilson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Wilson is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
- Hersey
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hersey is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
- Glenwood City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Glenwood City is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,214 people
- Woodville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Woodville is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,351 people
- Baldwin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Baldwin is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,078 people
- Hammond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hammond is located in Saint Croix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,890 people
- Trempealeau County
- Eleva
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Eleva is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleva
- Population from the 2020 Census: 661 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rusk, see our County-by-County Page for Rusk.
Cemeteries Near Rusk ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rusk.
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 Rusk - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rusk covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Cedar Falls Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Potters Field Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. John Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Iron Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Halverson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Peace Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Froens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Highland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Little Elk Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (166 more) ...
- Waneka Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hill Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ford Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Rusk had a population of 62 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rusk, with the one closest to Rusk listed first.
- Cedar Falls
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Falls
- Menomonie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,599 people
- Menomonie Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Menomonie Junction is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menomonie Junction
- North Menomonie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- North Menomonie is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Menomonie
- Elk Mound
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Elk Mound is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 884 people
- Colfax
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Colfax is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,151 people
- Downsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Downsville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downsville
- Wheeler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wheeler is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Meridean
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Meridean is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridean
- Knapp
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Knapp is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knapp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Dunnville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dunnville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnville
- Caryville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Caryville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caryville
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Truax
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Truax is located in Eau Claire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truax
- Boyceville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Boyceville is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,124 people
- Rock Falls
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Falls is located in Dunn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Falls
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rusk. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rusk.
Newspapers Published in Rusk ...
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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rusk.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rusk, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rusk.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Rusk:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Dunn County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barron County
- Buffalo County
- Chippewa County
- Eau Claire County
- Pepin County
- Pierce County
- Saint Croix County
- Trempealeau County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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. |
| <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 Rusk, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rusk) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |