RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Wisconsin >> Oconto County >> Townsend >> 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 Townsend (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 Townsend. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Townsend is located in Oconto 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 Oconto County: Brown, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Menominee & Shawano.

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

  • Oconto County     (The home county of Townsend)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend, with the one closest to Townsend listed first.
    • Mountain
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Armstrong
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Armstrong came from an uncertain source and they still need to be verified:<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
      • Armstrong is located in Oconto County
    • Breed
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Breed. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breed
      • Breed is located in Oconto County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Breed
      • From Townsend to Breed
    • Frostville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Suring
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hickory Corners
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Forest County
  • Langlade County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend, with the one closest to Townsend listed first.
    • Freeman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Freeman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
      • Freeman is located in Langlade County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Freeman
      • From Townsend to Freeman
    • Lily
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lily. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily
      • Lily is located in Langlade County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lily
      • From Townsend to Lily
    • White Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Lake
      • White Lake is located in Langlade County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • Bryant
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bryant. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
      • Bryant is located in Langlade County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bryant
      • From Townsend to Bryant
    • Post Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Phlox
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Deerbrook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Kempster
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kempster. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kempster
      • Kempster is located in Langlade County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kempster
      • From Townsend to Kempster
    • Elcho
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Antigo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Marinette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend, with the one closest to Townsend listed first.
    • Athelstane
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Crivitz
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crivitz have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crivitz
      • Crivitz is located in Marinette County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 938 people
    • Sweetheart City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Cedarville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Wausaukee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wausaukee have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wausaukee
      • Wausaukee is located in Marinette County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
    • Dunbar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Menominee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend, with the one closest to Townsend listed first.
    • Neopit
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Neopit have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neopit
      • Neopit is located in Menominee County
    • Zoar
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Legend Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Legend Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legend Lake
      • Legend Lake is located in Menominee County
  • Oneida County
  • Shawano County
    • Middle Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Middle Village have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Village
      • Middle Village is located in Shawano County

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

Cemeteries Near Townsend ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Townsend.

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 Townsend covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Forest Home Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Lakeview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lakeview Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lakeview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Roseland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Roseland Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Roseland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Forest Hill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Forest Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Forest Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Ambrose Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Ambrose Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Ambrose Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Trinity Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Trinity Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Langlade Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lily Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. James Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. James Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Brown Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brown Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brown Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. James Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. James Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. James Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Laona Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Laona Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Laona Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (43 more) ...
    • Sherry Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sherry Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sherry Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Union Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • 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.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Pearson Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 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.<5>

While we didn't find Townsend in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Townsend.

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

  • Mountain
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lily
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lily. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily
    • Lily is located in Langlade County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Lily
    • From Townsend to Lily
  • Elton
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
    • Elton is located in Langlade County
  • Breed
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Breed. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breed
    • Breed is located in Oconto County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Breed
    • From Townsend to Breed
  • Logan
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Logan have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan
    • Logan is located in Oconto County
  • Bryant
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bryant. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
    • Bryant is located in Langlade County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Bryant
    • From Townsend to Bryant
  • Crandon
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Cavour
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cavour have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavour
    • Cavour is located in Forest County
  • Armstrong Creek
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Armstrong Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong Creek
    • Armstrong Creek is located in Forest County
  • Hayes
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hayes have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
    • Hayes is located in Oconto County
  • Post Lake
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Deerbrook
    (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (7 more) ...
    • Phlox
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Koepenick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Koepenick have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koepenick
      • Koepenick is located in Langlade County
    • Kempster
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kempster. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kempster
      • Kempster is located in Langlade County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kempster
      • From Townsend to Kempster

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

Newspapers Published in Townsend ...

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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Townsend.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Townsend, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Townsend.

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 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 Townsend:

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

The official website for Oconto County: www.co.oconto.wi.us/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>If we found a location and have questions about the accuracy of our information, we will simply say that the marker is 'in the vicinity'. We are not confident about the location and the position of our marker is only a rough guide. If we have too many doubts about the location, we will not include it in our database.
<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>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.
<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 Townsend, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Townsend) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Townsend. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 45.3287, Longitude: -88.5896    









 

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