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 Wauwatosa (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 Wauwatosa. 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.
Wauwatosa is located in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee County: Ozaukee, Racine, Washington & Waukesha.
Below are the counties that are near Wauwatosa. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wauwatosa:
- Milwaukee County (The home county of Wauwatosa)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- West Allis
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- West Milwaukee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milwaukee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,090 people
- Milwaukee
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Greenfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- West Granville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Glendale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,775 people
- Shorewood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shorewood is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,117 people
- Whitefish Bay
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greendale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Greendale is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,127 people
- Hales Corners
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hales Corners is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Corners
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,553 people
- Brown Deer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Brown Deer is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Deer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,191 people
- Fox Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fox Point is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,628 people
- Dodge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Ashippun
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rubicon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Lac La Belle
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lac La Belle is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lac La Belle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
- Lake Lac La Belle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lake Lac La Belle is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Lac La Belle
- Concord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Concord is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Sullivan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sullivan is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 666 people
- Ixonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ixonia is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ixonia
- Kenosha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Brighton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Paris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Somers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Somers is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
- Ozaukee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Mequon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Freistadt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Thiensville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Cedarburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Grafton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ulao
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Horns Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Saukville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Saukville is located in Ozaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saukville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,437 people
- Port Washington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fredonia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Holy Cross
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Waubeka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Racine County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Kneeland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Caledonia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Raymond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wind Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Franksville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Franksville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franksville
- Caldwell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Yorkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Yorkville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Wind Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wind Point is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wind Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,685 people
- North Bay
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Bay is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
- Waterford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Waterford is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,618 people
- Mount Pleasant
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27,048 people
- Rochester
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Walworth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Lake Beulah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Potter Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Potter Lake is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Lake
- East Troy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Troy Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Voree ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Little Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Germantown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Germantown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,057 people
- Rockfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Five
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Richfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rugby Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rugby Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby Junction
- Jackson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Slinger
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Slinger is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slinger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,704 people
- Thompson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Myra
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cedar Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hartford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Waukesha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Elm Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Butler
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Butler is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,795 people
- Brookfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Brookfield is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39,164 people
- Calhoun
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Calhoun is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Fussville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fussville is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fussville
- New Berlin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tess Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lannon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lannon is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lannon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,284 people
- Menomonee Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Prospect
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pewaukee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Pewaukee is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pewaukee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,703 people
- Waukesha
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wauwatosa, see our County-by-County Page for Wauwatosa.
Cemeteries Near Wauwatosa ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wauwatosa.
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 Wauwatosa - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wauwatosa covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Wauwatosa Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Fairview Mausoleum Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Honey Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Wood National Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln Memorial Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wanderers Rest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pinelawn Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (212 more) ...
- School Sisters of Notre Dame Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ever - Rest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pilgrims Rest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Wauwatosa in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wauwatosa.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wauwatosa, with the one closest to Wauwatosa listed first.
- Elm Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Milwaukee
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brookfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Brookfield is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39,164 people
- Calhoun
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Calhoun is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- West Granville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- New Berlin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hales Corners
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hales Corners is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Corners
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,553 people
- Fussville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fussville is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fussville
- Whitefish Bay
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marcy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Marcy is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcy
- Brown Deer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Brown Deer is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Deer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,191 people
- Granville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Granville is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Tess Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Francis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Duplainville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Duplainville is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplainville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wauwatosa. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wauwatosa.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wauwatosa ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wauwatosa.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wauwatosa. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wauwatosa and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wauwatosa.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3> of Wauwatosa.
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 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 Wauwatosa:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Milwaukee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dodge County
- Jefferson County
- Kenosha County
- Ozaukee County
- Racine County
- Walworth County
- Washington County
- Waukesha 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 Wauwatosa, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Wauwatosa) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |