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 Afton Center (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 Afton Center. 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 Afton Center ...
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 Afton Center: Afton Ctr. (or less commonly used: Afton Cen., Afton Cent. or Afton Cntr.)
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Afton Center is located in DeKalb County.
To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of DeKalb County: Boone, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle & Winnebago.
Below are the counties that are near Afton Center. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Afton Center:
- DeKalb County (The home county of Afton Center)
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Elva
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Elva is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
- De Kalb
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Waterman
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cortland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Malta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shabbona
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- Hinckley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shabbona Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Sycamore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- Franks
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Clare
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Brush Point ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Herbert
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Irene
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Belvidere
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Garden Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Eola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- West Chicago
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- West Chicago is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
- Wayne
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ingalton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ingalton is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalton
- Warrenville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Grundy County
- Nettle Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Maple Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kaneville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Big Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Virgil
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elburn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lily Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lily Lake is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
- Sugar Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Burlington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wasco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Campton Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Campton Hills is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,063 people
- Campton Hills has also been known as:
- Campton Hills village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Campton Hills <1>
- Bonnie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bonnie is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
- Bonnie has also been known as:
- Bonnie Valley
- Bowes Bend
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
- North Plato
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Plato is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Plato
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Little Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Plano
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Millbrook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bristol
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yorkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Newark
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Boulder Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Oswego
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lisbon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Plattville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Leland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Earlville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Baker
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Millington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sheridan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Serena
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Blakes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Mendota
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
- Triumph
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wedron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Troy Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Lee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Steward
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- East Paw Paw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Paw Paw
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Radley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- The Burg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- Compton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- West Brooklyn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ashton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Inlet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Inlet is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
- Lee Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sublette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Huntley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marengo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Union
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Creston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hillcrest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
- Rochelle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lindenwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Flagg Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
- Flagg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Flagg is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
- Monroe Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Holcomb
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Stillman Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Honey Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Carthage
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Carthage is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Will County
- Normantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Normantown is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- New Millford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- North Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Park is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
- Cherry Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Afton Center, see our County-by-County Page for Afton Center.
Cemeteries Near Afton Center ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Afton Center.
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 Afton Center - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Afton Center covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Afton Center Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- North Clinton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fairview Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Immauel Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hudson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mound Rest Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Street Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Catholic DeKalb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Oaklawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Miller Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (266 more) ...
- Community Methodist Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Whitmore Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Afton Center in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Afton Center.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Afton Center, with the one closest to Afton Center listed first.
- Waterman
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- De Kalb
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cortland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shabbona
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Malta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hinckley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shabbona Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Maple Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Franks
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Sycamore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- Clare
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Creston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Richardson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Richardson is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
- Steward
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Afton Center. See our List of 1890's Communities around Afton Center.
Newspapers Published in Afton Center ...
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 112 newspapers that have been published in the area around Afton Center.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Afton Center, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Afton Center.
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 Afton Center:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to DeKalb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kane County
- Kendall County
- La Salle County
- Lee County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Will County
- Winnebago County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Afton Center, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Afton Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |