The location of West Prairie
Our Genealogy Helper for West Prairie ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool that can help us with planning our trips.
- That it also helps us to understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
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.
It's still very early in our research, but as we gather more information it will be added to this page.
Name Variations for West Prairie ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Various errors happen - anything from simple spelling to bad translations or people who just guessed at the name. Sometimes the post office had a slightly different name than the community and while one document might refer to the community name, the next might use the post office name.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give a you a feel for the variations that might have occurred with West Prairie.
- Typical abbreviation for West Prairie: W. Prairie
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.
West Prairie is located in Vernon County.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Vernon County: Allamakee (IA), Houston (MN), Crawford, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland & Sauk.
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:
| Dir | Distance | ||
| Vernon (The home county for West Prairie) | |||
| Sterling [Map] | NW | Less than 2 miles<1> | |
| Franklin [Map] | E | 5 miles [8 km] | |
| Wheatland [Map] | W | 6 miles [9.7 km] | |
| Jefferson [Map] | N | 8 miles [12.9 km] | |
| Harmony [Map] | NW | 8 miles [12.9 km] | |
| Viroqua [Map] | NE | 9 miles [14.5 km] | |
| Genoa [Map] | NW | 9 miles [14.5 km] | |
| Viroqua [Map] | NE | 11 miles [17.7 km] | |
| Genoa [Map] | NW | 12 miles [19.3 km] | |
| Kickapoo [Map] | E | 13 miles [20.9 km] | |
| Readstown [Map] | E | 13 miles [20.9 km] | |
| Chaseburg [Map] | N | 13 miles [20.9 km] | |
| Hamburg [Map] | N | 14 miles [22.5 km] | |
| Crawford | |||
| Freeman [Map] | SW | 6 miles [9.7 km] | |
| Ferryville [Map] | S | 9 miles [14.5 km] | |
| Utica [Map] | SE | 9 miles [14.5 km] | |
| De Soto [Map] | W | 9 miles [14.5 km] | |
| Mount Sterling [Map] | SE | 11 miles [17.7 km] | |
| Soldiers Grove [Map] | E | 13 miles [20.9 km] | |
| Gays Mills [Map] | SE | 13 miles [20.9 km] | |
| Seneca [Map] | S | 14 miles [22.5 km] | |
| Bell Center [Map] | SE | 15 miles [24.1 km] | |
| Clayton [Map] | SE | 15 miles [24.1 km] | |
| Haney [Map] | SE | 17 miles [27.4 km] | |
| Eastman [Map] | S | 21 miles [33.8 km] | |
| Eastman [Map] | S | 21 miles [33.8 km] | |
| Grant | |||
| Boscobel [Map] | SE | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| Boscobel [Map] | SE | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| Woodman [Map] | SE | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Woodman [Map] | S | 29 miles [46.7 km] | |
| Blue River [Map] | SE | 29 miles [46.7 km] | |
| Watterstown [Map] | SE | 29 miles [46.7 km] | |
| Millville [Map] | S | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| Marion [Map] | SE | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| Mount Hope [Map] | S | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Hickory Grove [Map] | SE | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Muscoda [Map] | SE | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Muscoda [Map] | SE | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Mount Hope [Map] | S | 35 miles [56.3 km] | |
| Iowa | |||
| Avoca [Map] | SE | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Pulaski [Map] | SE | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Juneau | |||
| Union Center [Map] | E | 40 miles [64.4 km] | |
| La Crosse | |||
| Greenfield [Map] | N | 21 miles [33.8 km] | |
| Shelby [Map] | N | 21 miles [33.8 km] | |
| Washington [Map] | N | 21 miles [33.8 km] | |
| Saint Joseph [Map] | N | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Shelby [Map] | N | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Barre [Map] | N | 25 miles [40.2 km] | |
| Bangor [Map] | N | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Medary [Map] | N | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| La Crosse [Map] | NW | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| Bangor [Map] | N | 29 miles [46.7 km] | |
| West Salem [Map] | N | 29 miles [46.7 km] | |
| French Island [Map] | NW | 29 miles [46.7 km] | |
| Onalaska [Map] | N | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| Monroe | |||
| Portland [Map] | N | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Cashton [Map] | NE | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Jefferson [Map] | NE | 25 miles [40.2 km] | |
| Melvina [Map] | NE | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Leon [Map] | N | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Sheldon [Map] | NE | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Oil City [Map] | NE | 29 miles [46.7 km] | |
| Wells [Map] | NE | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| Norwalk [Map] | NE | 32 miles [51.5 km] | |
| Ridgeville [Map] | NE | 33 miles [53.1 km] | |
| Wellington [Map] | NE | 33 miles [53.1 km] | |
| Sparta [Map] | N | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Wilton [Map] | NE | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Richland | |||
| Viola [Map] | E | 18 miles [29 km] | |
| Forest [Map] | E | 20 miles [32.2 km] | |
| Sylvan [Map] | E | 20 miles [32.2 km] | |
| Akan [Map] | SE | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Bloom [Map] | E | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Boaz [Map] | E | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Marshall [Map] | E | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Richwood [Map] | SE | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Westport [Map] | SE | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Dayton [Map] | E | 27 miles [43.5 km] | |
| Bloom City [Map] | E | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Yuba [Map] | E | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| Eagle [Map] | SE | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| Sauk | |||
| Woodland [Map] | E | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Allamakee (IA) | |||
| Lansing (IA) [Map] | SW | 12 miles [19.3 km] | |
| New Albin (IA) [Map] | W | 13 miles [20.9 km] | |
| Harpers Ferry (IA) [Map] | S | 19 miles [30.6 km] | |
| Waterville (IA) [Map] | SW | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Dorchester (IA) [Map] | W | 24 miles [38.6 km] | |
| Waukon (IA) [Map] | SW | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Postville (IA) [Map] | SW | 38 miles [61.2 km] | |
| Clayton (IA) | |||
| Marquette (IA) [Map] | S | 30 miles [48.3 km] | |
| McGregor (IA) [Map] | S | 31 miles [49.9 km] | |
| Monona (IA) [Map] | SW | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Luana (IA) [Map] | SW | 35 miles [56.3 km] | |
| Clayton (IA) [Map] | S | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Farmersburg (IA) [Map] | SW | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Winneshiek (IA) | |||
| Highlandville (IA) [Map] | W | 32 miles [51.5 km] | |
| Hesper (IA) [Map] | W | 37 miles [59.5 km] | |
| Decorah (IA) [Map] | W | 39 miles [62.8 km] | |
| Castalia (IA) [Map] | SW | 40 miles [64.4 km] | |
| Fillmore (MN) | |||
| Mabel (MN) [Map] | W | 37 miles [59.5 km] | |
| Houston (MN) | |||
| Brownsville (MN) [Map] | NW | 20 miles [32.2 km] | |
| Eitzen (MN) [Map] | W | 22 miles [35.4 km] | |
| Caledonia (MN) [Map] | NW | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| Hokah (MN) [Map] | NW | 26 miles [41.8 km] | |
| La Crescent (MN) [Map] | NW | 28 miles [45.1 km] | |
| Spring Grove (MN) [Map] | W | 31 miles [49.9 km] | |
| Houston (MN) [Map] | NW | 34 miles [54.7 km] | |
| Winona (MN) | |||
| Dakota (MN) [Map] | NW | 35 miles [56.3 km] | |
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.
If you click on the [Map] that follows each cemetery's name, a Google map will open showing a satellite view of the area where the cemetery is located. We have tried to place the cemetery in the center of the map, but we're still working on our data and the map might not not be centered properly. If you don't see the cemetery right away, try zooming-in. Usually, but not always, you can see the outline of the cemetery or some of the headstones.
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 West Prairie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
| Distance & Direction | Name of Cemetery | |
| Less than 2 miles | ||
| SE | Fargo Cemetery [Map] | |
| About 2 miles [3.2 km] | ||
| WSW | Walnut Mound Cemetery [Map] | |
| About 5 miles [8 km] | ||
| SW | Rush Creek Cemetery [Map] | |
| SSW | Freeman Cemetery [Map] | |
| N | Zion Cemetery [Map] | |
| Within 7 miles [11.3 km] | ||
| SSE | Eitsert Cemetery [Map] | |
| NE | Belgium Ridge Cemetery [Map] | |
| Within 8 miles [12.9 km] | ||
| WSW | Lawrence Ridge Cemetery [Map] | |
| NNW | Haukley Cemetery [Map] | |
| ESE | Towerville Cemetery [Map] | |
| Within 9 miles [14.5 km] | ||
| SSW | Ferryville Cemetery [Map] | |
| SSE | Utica Lutheran Cemetery [Map] | |
| ESE | Kickapoo Cemetery [Map] | |
| ESE | Fortney Cemetery [Map] | |
| ENE | Brookville Cemetery [Map] | |
| NE | White Cemetery [Map] | |
| NE | Viroqua Cemetery [Map] [FindAGrave<2>] | |
| NE | Pioneer Cemetery [Map] | |
| WNW | German Cemetery [Map] | |
| Within 10 miles [16.1 km] | ||
| ESE | Hooverson Cemetery [Map] | |
| NE | County Farm Cemetery [Map] | |
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 94 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 27 miles [43.5 km]. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Prairie.
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, West Prairie had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Prairie, with the one closest to West Prairie listed first.
| Retreat [Map] | |
| - | Located 3 miles [4.8 km] to the West Southwest (WSW) from West Prairie |
| - | 1895 population of 87 people |
| - | Retreat had a post office and no railroad service |
| Purdy [Map] | |
| - | Located 3 miles [4.8 km] to the North Northwest (NNW) from West Prairie |
| - | 1895 population of 32 people |
| - | Purdy had a post office and no railroad service |
| Fargo [Map] | |
| - | Located 3 miles [4.8 km] to the East Southeast (ESE) from West Prairie |
| - | Fargo had a post office and no railroad service |
| Rising Sun [Map] | |
| - | Located 4 miles [6.4 km] to the Southeast (SE) from West Prairie |
| - | 1895 population of 62 people |
| - | Rising Sun had a post office and no railroad service |
| Liberty Pole [Map] | |
| - | Located 5 miles [8 km] to the East Northeast (ENE) from West Prairie |
| - | 1895 population of 79 people |
| - | Liberty Pole had a post office and no railroad service |
| Freeman [Map] | |
| - | Located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the South Southwest (SSW) from West Prairie |
| - | 1895 population of 62 people (with 699 people in 2017) |
| - | Freeman had a post office and no railroad service |
| Red Mound [Map] | |
| - | Located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the West (W) from West Prairie |
| - | Red Mound had a post office and no railroad service |
| Towerville [Map] | |
| - | Located 7 miles [11.3 km] to the East Southeast (ESE) from West Prairie |
| - | 1895 population of 39 people |
| - | Towerville had a post office and no railroad service |
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Prairie. The list can be found on our page for Communities Neighboring West Prairie in the 1890's.
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 all and free to view - you should note that they might link to other websites which do charge.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to West Prairie:
These websites are specific to Wisconsin:
| Cyndi's List | Family Search | Genealogy Trails |
Website for the //www.wisconsinhistory.org/
Not to be confused with the official state website, we've found the Digital State Archives website for the State of Wisconsin to be a good source for additional links.
These pages are specific to Vernon County:
| Cyndi's List | Family Search | Genealogy Trails |
Genealogy information for nearby counties:
Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin:
| Cyndi's List: | Cemeteries of Wisconsin, Cemeteries of Vernon County |
| Cemetery Junction: | Directory for Wisconsin |
| FamilySearch.org: | Cemetery Wiki for Wisconsin |
| Find-A-Grave: | Home Page |
| Internment.net: | Cemeteries for Wisconsin, for Vernon County |
Of Special Interest ...
The GenDisasters website specializes in newspaper articles about tragedies and disasters. While it makes interesting reading all by itself, it should be of special interest to genealogists and family historians looking for people who were either affected by or directly involved in such tragedies.
| Disaster Stories from Wisconsin |
| Also see Disaster Stories for ... |
| Iowa |
| Minnesota |
Miscellaneous References and Mentions for West Prairie ...
While our initial data about West Prairie came from various goverment sources, we have found mention of West Prairie in old books and maps. When we do, we'll find a fact here or a snippet there. We've created the following list to keep track of the documents we found useful in adding to our knowledge about West Prairie.
We hope that the following list of documents will be of interest to you.
Business Atlas and Shippers' Guide
Published by Rand McNally & Co.
(Document found on Google Books)
Notes for West Prairie:
- Services available at that time (1895): had Post Office, no Railroad mentioned
Both the GNIS and FIPS databases contain entries for West Prairie. See our Misc Page for West Prairie for more information.
Other Roadside Stops ...
Search for a Wisconsin Community
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for West Prairie. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- West Prairie) to Point B. Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in West Prairie. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.4666, Longitude: -91.0226 [Map]. In this case, the coordinates for West Prairie have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). |
| <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> | 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. |