RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Wisconsin >> Dane County >> Sun Prairie >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Sun Prairie (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 Sun Prairie. 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 Sun Prairie ...

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 occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Sun Prairie: Sun Pr.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Sun Prairie. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Sun Prairie.

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 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.

Sun Prairie is located in Dane 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 Dane County: Columbia, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock & Sauk.

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

  • Dane County     (The home county of Sun Prairie)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sun Prairie, with the one closest to Sun Prairie listed first.
    • Burke
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Burke is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
    • North Bristol
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • North Bristol is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bristol
    • Pierceville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pierceville is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierceville
    • Cottage Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Cottage Grove is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,158 people
    • Windsor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Windsor is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
    • East Bristol
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • East Bristol is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bristol
    • DeForest
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • DeForest is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeForest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,915 people
    • Darwin ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Darwin is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
    • Marshall
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Marshall is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,016 people
    • Maple Bluff
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Maple Bluff is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Bluff
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,307 people
    • Mendota
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Mendota is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
    • Hope
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Hope is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sun Prairie, with the one closest to Sun Prairie listed first.
    • Keyeser
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
    • North Leeds
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • North Leeds is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leeds
    • Arlington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Arlington is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 818 people
    • Otsego
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Otsego is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otsego
    • Columbus
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Columbus is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,117 people
    • Fall River
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Fall River is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,757 people
    • Poynette
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Poynette is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poynette
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,508 people
    • Doylestown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Doylestown is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doylestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
    • Lodi
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lodi is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,109 people
    • Rio
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Rio is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,047 people
    • Englewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Englewood is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englewood
    • Harmony Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Harmony Grove is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Grove
  • Dodge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sun Prairie, with the one closest to Sun Prairie listed first.
    • Astico
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Astico is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astico
    • Reeseville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Reeseville is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeseville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 673 people
    • Lowell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Lowell is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
    • Clyman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Clyman is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Beaver Dam
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaver Dam is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Dam
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,303 people
    • Randolph
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Randolph is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
    • Fox Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Fox Lake is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,440 people
    • Juneau
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Juneau is located in Dodge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juneau
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,532 people
  • Green County
    • Dayton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dayton is located in Green County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sun Prairie, with the one closest to Sun Prairie listed first.
    • Waterloo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Waterloo is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,322 people
    • Lake Ripley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Ripley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ripley
    • Lake Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Mills is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,014 people
    • Milford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Milford is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
    • Grellton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Grellton is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grellton
    • Johnson Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Johnson Creek is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,065 people
    • Carcajou
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Carcajou is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carcajou
    • Jefferson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,037 people
    • Lake Koshkonong
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Koshkonong is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Koshkonong
    • Watertown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Watertown is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,370 people
    • Fort Atkinson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fort Atkinson is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Atkinson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,372 people
    • Farmington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Farmington is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
  • Rock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sun Prairie, with the one closest to Sun Prairie listed first.
    • Cooksville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Cooksville is located in Rock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
    • Edgerton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Edgerton is located in Rock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,595 people
    • Union
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Union is located in Rock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Fulton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Fulton is located in Rock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Indianford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Indianford is located in Rock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianford
    • Evansville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Evansville is located in Rock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,556 people
    • Milton Junction
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Milton Junction is located in Rock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton Junction
  • Sauk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sun Prairie, with the one closest to Sun Prairie listed first.
    • Merrimac
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Merrimac is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
    • Moon Valley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Moon Valley is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon Valley
    • Prairie du Sac village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Prairie du Sac village is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie du Sac village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,426 people
    • Sauk City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Sauk City is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sauk City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,498 people

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

Cemeteries Near Sun Prairie ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sun Prairie.

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 Sun Prairie - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 Sun Prairie had a population of 704 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Sun Prairie had a population of 35,119 people.

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

  • Burke
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Burke is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burke
  • Pierceville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pierceville is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierceville
  • North Bristol
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • North Bristol is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bristol
  • Vilas
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Vilas is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
  • Cottage Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Cottage Grove is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,158 people
  • Deansville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Deansville is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deansville
  • Windsor
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Windsor is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
  • Darwin ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Darwin is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
  • East Bristol
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • East Bristol is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bristol
  • DeForest
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • DeForest is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeForest
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,915 people
  • Keyeser
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Keyeser is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyeser
  • Mendota
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Mendota is located in Dane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Marshall
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Marshall is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,016 people
    • Hope
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Hope is located in Dane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
    • Leeds
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Leeds is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sun Prairie ...

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 213 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sun Prairie.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sun Prairie. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sun Prairie and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sun Prairie.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3> of Sun Prairie.

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 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 Sun Prairie:

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 Sun Prairie, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sun Prairie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.