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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 Viola (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 Viola. 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 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.

Viola is primarily located in Richland County. A portion of Viola extends into Vernon 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 Richland County: Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Sauk & Vernon.

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

  • Richland County     (The home county of Viola)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Sabin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bloom City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Woodstock
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Yuba
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Yuba is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Gillingham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Boaz
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hub City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Hub City is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City
    • Richland Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Westport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Westport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
    • Balmoral
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Ithaca
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Neptune
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Soldiers Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Soldiers Grove is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soldiers Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
    • Towerville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Gays Mills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Gays Mills is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays Mills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
    • Rising Sun
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bell Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Sterling
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Sterling is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Sterling
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 196 people
    • Petersburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Freeman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Freeman is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
    • Ferryville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Ferryville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferryville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
    • Steuben
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • De Soto
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Boydtown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Grant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Blue River
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Blue River is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 418 people
    • Muscoda
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Muscoda is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscoda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,236 people
    • Boscobel
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Boscobel is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boscobel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,134 people
    • Woodman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Woodman is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
  • Iowa County
    • Avoca
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Avoca is located in Iowa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 620 people
  • Juneau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Union Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Wonewoc
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wonewoc is located in Juneau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wonewoc
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 789 people
    • Elroy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Elroy is located in Juneau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elroy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,306 people
  • La Crosse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Middle Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Joseph
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bangor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bangor is located in La Crosse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,442 people
    • Rockland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Shelby
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Shelby is located in La Crosse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Cashton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Cashton is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,111 people
    • Oil City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Oil City is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
    • Melvina
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Norwalk
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Wilton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Wilton is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 498 people
    • Kendall
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Kendall is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
    • Clifton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Sparta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Sauk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Lime Ridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Ironton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Ironton is located in Sauk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 251 people
    • La Valle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Sandusky
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Vernon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Liberty
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Liberty is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
    • La Farge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Readstown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Readstown is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Readstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
    • Viroqua
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Viroqua is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viroqua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,394 people
    • Liberty Pole
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • White City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • White City is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Westby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Fargo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Ontario
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Ontario is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ontario
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 561 people
    • Newry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Tabor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • West Prairie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • West Prairie is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Prairie
  • Allamakee County (IA)
    • Lansing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Lansing is located in Allamakee County (IA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lansing <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Viola ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Viola.

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 Viola - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Viola had a population of 135 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Viola had a population of 665 people.

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

  • Liberty
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Liberty is located in Vernon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
  • La Farge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Ross
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Ross is located in Vernon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
  • Sugar Grove
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Sugar Grove is located in Vernon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
  • Readstown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Readstown is located in Vernon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Readstown
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 414 people
  • Sylvan
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Sylvan is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
  • Sabin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • West Lima
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • West Lima is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lima
  • Avalanche
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Avalanche is located in Vernon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalanche
  • Folsom
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Folsom is located in Vernon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
  • Soldiers Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Soldiers Grove is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soldiers Grove
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
  • North Clayton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • North Clayton is located in Crawford County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Clayton
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Rockton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Rockton is located in Vernon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
    • Mill Creek ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mill Creek is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
    • Bloom City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Viola ...

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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Viola.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Viola. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Viola and those printed in the larger area surrounding Viola.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Viola.

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 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 Viola:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Viola) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Viola, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.