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A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
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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 River Forest (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 River Forest. 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 River Forest ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for River Forest: River Frst.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named River Forest. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for River Forest.

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 hospitals and doctors 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.

River Forest is located in Lake County.

To see how the shape of Florida's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lake County: Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter & Volusia.

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

  • Lake County     (The home county of River Forest)
    • The following are listed by their distance from River Forest, with the one closest to River Forest listed first.
    • Lake Mack - Forest Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pine Lakes
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Lakes is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Lakes
    • Lake Kathryn
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Lake Kathryn is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Kathryn
    • Acron ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Acron is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acron
    • Cassia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cassia is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassia
    • Paisley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Astor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Ethel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Ethel is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
    • Altoona
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Pittman
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Pittman is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman
    • Mount Plymouth
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Plymouth is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Plymouth
    • Lakeview Terrace Retirement Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Flagler County
    • Korona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Korona is located in Flagler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Korona
  • Marion County
    • Electra
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Electra is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Electra
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from River Forest, with the one closest to River Forest listed first.
    • Tangerine
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Apopka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Zellwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Plymouth
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • South Apopka
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • South Apopka is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Apopka
    • Lockhart
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Maitland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Eatonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Aloma
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Clarcona
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Goldenrod
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Paradise Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Paradise Heights is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Heights
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from River Forest, with the one closest to River Forest listed first.
    • Crescent City Station
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Crescent City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Georgetown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Seminole County
    • The following are listed by their distance from River Forest, with the one closest to River Forest listed first.
    • Lake Monroe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Sanford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Heathrow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Indian Mound Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Indian Mound Village is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Mound Village
    • Lake Mary
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Midway
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Midway is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Cameron City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Cameron City is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron City
    • Longwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Wekiwa Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Wekiwa Springs is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wekiwa Springs
    • Sanlando Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Sanlando Springs is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanlando Springs
    • Winter Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Casselberry
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
  • Volusia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from River Forest, with the one closest to River Forest listed first.
    • Beresford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Beresford is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
    • West De Land
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • West De Land is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West De Land
    • Highland Park ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Park is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
    • De Land Southwest
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • De Land Southwest is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Land Southwest
    • De Land
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Glenwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • North De Land
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • North De Land is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North De Land
    • De Leon Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Orange City Hills
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Orange City Hills is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange City Hills
    • Orange City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • De Land Highlands
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • De Land Highlands is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Land Highlands
    • Cassadaga
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near River Forest ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of River Forest.

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 River Forest - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from River Forest, with the one closest to River Forest listed first.

  • Beresford Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Baker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
    • The Union Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Orange Cemetery
    • Union / Baker / Wright Cemetery
    • Wright Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #72710 <2>
  • Charitable Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charitable Cemetery
    • The Charitable Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Community Cemetery
  • Potters Field
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potters Field
    • The Potters Field has also been known as:
    • Charnel Cemetery
    • Stone Cemetery
    • Volusia County Cemetery
  • Oakdale Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Oakdale Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bethel Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel Church Cemetery
    • The Bethel Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bethel Cemetery
  • Glenwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Glenwood African-American Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood African-American Cemetery
    • The Glenwood African-American Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Church Street Cemetery
    • Glenwood Black Cemetery
  • DeLand Memorial Gardens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeLand Memorial Gardens
    • The DeLand Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
    • De Land Memorial Gardens
  • Pentecostal Holiness Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentecostal Holiness Cemetery
    • The Pentecostal Holiness Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Pentecostal Holiness Church Cemetery
  • Continue List   (109 more) ...
    • Lincoln Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hollywood Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Pinehurst Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinehurst Cemetery
      • The Pinehurst Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Fairport Cemetery

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>

While we didn't find River Forest in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of River Forest.

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

  • Crows Bluff
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Crows Bluff is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crows Bluff
  • Beresford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Beresford is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
  • Saint Francis
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Francis is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francis
  • West De Land
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • West De Land is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West De Land
  • Highland Park ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Highland Park is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
  • Fatio
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Fatio is located in Volusia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fatio
  • Glenwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Orange City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Paisley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Cassia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Cassia is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassia
  • Lake Helen
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Barberville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Emporia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Emporia is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporia
    • Enterprise
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Astor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in River Forest ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around River Forest.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of River Forest, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for River Forest.

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 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 River Forest:

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