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 West 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 West 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 West 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 West Prairie: W. Prairie
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Prairie. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West 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.
West Prairie is located in Trempealeau 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 Trempealeau County: Winona (MN), Buffalo, Eau Claire, Jackson & La Crosse.
Below are the counties that are near West Prairie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Prairie:
- Trempealeau County (The home county of West Prairie)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Wrights Corners
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Wrights Corners is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights Corners
- Trempealeau
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Trempealeau is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trempealeau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,663 people
- Galesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Galesville is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,602 people
- Frenchville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frenchville is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchville
- Arcadia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Arcadia is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,026 people
- Ettrick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ettrick is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ettrick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 511 people
- New City ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- New City is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
- Independence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Independence is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,291 people
- Blair
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blair is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,330 people
- Whitehall
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Whitehall is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,565 people
- Coral City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Coral City is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coral City
- Russell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Russell is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Buffalo County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Marshland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Marshland is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshland
- Bluff Siding
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bluff Siding is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Siding
- Fountain City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fountain City is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 842 people
- Anchorage ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Anchorage is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchorage
- Cochrane
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cochrane is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 409 people
- Waumandee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Waumandee is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waumandee
- Montana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Montana is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montana
- Buffalo City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo City is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
- Buffalo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Alma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alma is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
- Lookout
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lookout is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Gilmanton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Gilmanton is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmanton
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- North Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- North Bend is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bend
- Melrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 476 people
- Taylor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Taylor is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 473 people
- La Crosse County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Brice Prairie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brice Prairie is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brice Prairie
- Holmen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Holmen is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,368 people
- Midway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Midway is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Onalaska
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Onalaska is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onalaska
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,108 people
- French Island
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- French Island is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Island
- Mindoro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mindoro is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindoro
- Grand Crossing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Crossing is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Crossing
- North La Crosse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North La Crosse is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North La Crosse
- La Crosse
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- La Crosse is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Crosse
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51,163 people
- West Salem
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Salem is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,013 people
- Barre Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Barre Mills is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barre Mills
- Shelby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shelby is located in La Crosse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Fillmore County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Rushford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rushford Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rushford Village is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushford Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- South Rushford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Rushford is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rushford
- Peterson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bratsberg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
- Whalan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Houston County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Money Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- La Crescent
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Houston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hokah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Yucatan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Yucatan is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan
- Brownsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 505 people
- Caledonia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wabasha County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Minneiska
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Weaver
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Weaver is located in Wabasha County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Kellogg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winona County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Homer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Homer is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Lamoille
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lamoille is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamoille
- Winona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Goodview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Goodview is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,127 people
- Nodine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nodine is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nodine
- Wilson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Minnesota City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Stockton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Stockton is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
- Dakota
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dakota is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dakota
- Population from the 2020 Census: 307 people
- Rollingstone
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Wyattville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wyattville is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyattville
- Lewiston
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Prairie, see our County-by-County Page for West Prairie.
Cemeteries Near West Prairie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West 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 West Prairie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Prairie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Greenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Piper Valley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Trempealeau Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Old Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Tamarack Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bohris Valley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Pine Cliff Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (192 more) ...
- Bush Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cortland Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
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 West Prairie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Prairie.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
- Pine Creek ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pine Creek is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Creek
- Homer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Homer is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Centerville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Centerville is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- East Winona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- East Winona is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Winona
- Lamoille
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lamoille is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamoille
- Bluff Siding
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bluff Siding is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Siding
- Sugarloaf
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sugarloaf is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarloaf
- Pickwick
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pickwick is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickwick
- Dodge
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dodge is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge
- Trempealeau
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Trempealeau is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trempealeau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,663 people
- Winona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bohri ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bohri is located in Buffalo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bohri
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Galesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Galesville is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,602 people
- Cortland ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cortland is located in Trempealeau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortland
- Witoka
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Witoka is located in Winona County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witoka
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Prairie. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Prairie.
Newspapers Published in West 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 124 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Prairie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Prairie, 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 West Prairie.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 West Prairie:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Trempealeau County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buffalo County
- Jackson County
- La Crosse County
- Fillmore County
- Houston County
- Wabasha County
- Winona County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
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> | 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 West 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Prairie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |