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 Altorf (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 Altorf. 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.
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.
Altorf is located in Kankakee 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 Kankakee County: Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, Will, Lake (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Altorf. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Altorf:
- Kankakee County (The home county of Altorf)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Bourbonnais
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Limestone
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Limestone is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Bonfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bradley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Manteno
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kankakee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Goodrich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Saint George
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Irwin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Otto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Aroma Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Essex
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Matteson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Richton Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Park Forest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Olympia Fields
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Chicago Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Chicago Heights is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,957 people
- Tinley Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Chicago Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Orland Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Country Club Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Flossmoor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ford Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hazel Crest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Cabery
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Kempton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Clarke City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- Braceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- East Brooklyn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Diamond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Central City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- South Wilmington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Coal City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Gardner
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Carbon Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Carbon Hill is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Channahon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Claypool
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Chebanse
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Clifton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Papineau
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- L'Erable
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- Ashkum
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Beaverville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Martinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Danforth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Donovan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crescent City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gilman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- La Hogue
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Cardiff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cardiff is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Campus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Emington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dwight
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cullom
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Griswold
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Griswold is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Charlotte
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Charlotte is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
- Saunemin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sunbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Custer Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Symerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Wilton Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Lakewood Shores
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood Shores is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Shores
- Wallingford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Wilmington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmington is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,597 people
- Peotone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Braidwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Godley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Manhattan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Elwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Blodgett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Illinoi
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Schneider
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Lowell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cedar Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Dalecarlia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Lake Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Sumava Resorts
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Altorf, see our County-by-County Page for Altorf.
Cemeteries Near Altorf ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Altorf.
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 Altorf - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Altorf covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Schreffler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Limestone Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cemetery
- The Limestone Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hawkins Cemetery
- All Saint Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Blooms Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- DeSelm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beach Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- McGillivray Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Bonfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Van Meter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (241 more) ...
- Mound Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Rose Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Rose Cemetery
- The St. Rose Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Rose Catholic Cemetery
- St. Rose of Lima Cemetery
- Wesley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Wesley Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 7 miles [11.3 km]<3> to the east of Braidwood.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108794 <2>
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 Altorf in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Altorf.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Altorf, with the one closest to Altorf listed first.
- Deselm
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Deselm is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deselm
- Bonfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwich
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Greenwich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich
- Goodrich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Kankakee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ritchie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ritchie is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchie
- Irwin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Saint George
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Custer Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Otto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Exline
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Exline is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Symerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Union Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Herscher
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Essex
(11 miles [17.7 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 Altorf. See our List of 1890's Communities around Altorf.
Newspapers Published in Altorf ...
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 76 newspapers that have been published in the area around Altorf.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Altorf, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Altorf.
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 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 Altorf:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kankakee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- Ford County
- Grundy County
- Iroquois County
- Livingston County
- Will County
- Lake County
- Newton 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> | 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> | 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- Altorf) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Altorf, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |