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 Sweden (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 Sweden. 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 Sweden ...
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 Sweden: W. Sweden
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Sweden. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Sweden.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
West Sweden is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Chisago (MN), Washington (MN), Barron, Burnett, Dunn & Saint Croix.
Below are the counties that are near West Sweden. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Sweden:
- Polk County (The home county of West Sweden)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Frederic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Frederic is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
- Atlas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Atlas is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Clam Falls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Clam Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Falls
- Luck
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Luck is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luck
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
- Milltown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Milltown is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 875 people
- Balsam Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Balsam Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balsam Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 978 people
- Bunyan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bunyan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunyan
- Centuria
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Centuria is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centuria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 905 people
- Saint Croix Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Croix Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Croix Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Volga ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Volga is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volga
- Dresser
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Dresser is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dresser
- Population from the 2020 Census: 864 people
- Deronda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Deronda is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deronda
- Barron County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Cumberland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,097 people
- Turtle Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Turtle Lake is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Almena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Almena is located in Barron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
- Burnett County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Alpha
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Alpha is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpha
- Siren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Siren is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siren
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Grantsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Grantsburg is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,296 people
- Webster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Webster is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 620 people
- Randall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Randall is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Hertel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hertel is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hertel
- Bashaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bashaw is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bashaw
- Webb Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Webb Lake is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb Lake
- Washburn County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Shell Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Shell Lake is located in Washburn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shell Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,318 people
- Spooner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Spooner is located in Washburn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spooner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,553 people
- Chisago County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Almelund
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Taylors Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rush City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Harris
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Franconia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Franconia is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franconia
- Shafer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Center City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- North Branch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Branch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Branch is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Lindstrom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chisago City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine County (MN)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Rock Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cloverdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Pine City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Beroun
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Beroun is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beroun
- Duxbury
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Duxbury is located in Pine County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duxbury
- Hinckley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Sweden, see our County-by-County Page for West Sweden.
Cemeteries Near West Sweden ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Sweden.
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 Sweden - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Sweden covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Lakeview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lakeview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the west of Siren.
- The Lakeview Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mud Hen Lake Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #88516 <3>
- Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lewis Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Anscarius Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wood Lake Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Lake Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Wood Lake Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southwest of Alpha.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #89551 <3>
- Haustrup Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Freya Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lawson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Wood River Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Karlsborg Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- St. Olaf Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (120 more) ...
- Riverside Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wood River Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Logging Creek Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 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.<4>
While we didn't find West Sweden in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Sweden.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Sweden, with the one closest to West Sweden listed first.
- Trade Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Trade Lake is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade Lake
- West Denmark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- West Denmark is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denmark
- Clam Falls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Clam Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Falls
- Grantsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Grantsburg is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,296 people
- Cushing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cushing is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushing
- Wolf Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wolf Creek is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Randall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Randall is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Balsam Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Balsam Lake is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balsam Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 978 people
- Bunyan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bunyan is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunyan
- Sunrise
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sunrise is located in Chisago County (MN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise
- Almelund
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Taylors Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Croix Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Croix Falls is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Croix Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Bashaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bashaw is located in Burnett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bashaw
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Sweden. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Sweden.
Newspapers Published in West Sweden ...
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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Sweden.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Sweden, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Sweden.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 West Sweden:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barron County
- Burnett County
- Washburn County
- Chisago County
- Pine 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Sweden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 West Sweden, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |