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 Amherst (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 Amherst. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Amherst is located in Lake 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 Lake County: Cook, McHenry, Allegan (MI), Berrien (MI), Van Buren (MI) & Kenosha (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Amherst. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Amherst:
- Lake County (The home county of Amherst)
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Deer Park
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lake Zurich
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Forest Lake
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake
- Kildeer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Barrington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- North Barrington is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,938 people
- Lake Barrington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Barrington is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,840 people
- Hawthorn Woods
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Gilmer
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilmer is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmer
- Long Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Tower Lakes
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tower Lakes is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tower Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,219 people
- Aptakisic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Buffalo Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Barrington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Capri Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Capri Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capri Village
- Inverness
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Palatine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Plum Grove Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Plum Grove Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Grove Village
- South Barrington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- South Barrington is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,976 people
- Barrington Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Barrington Hills is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,152 people
- Fairfax Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfax Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax Village
- Winthrop Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Winthrop Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop Village
- Hoffman Estates
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Arlington Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rolling Meadows
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- New Lebanon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- New Lebanon is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
- Charter Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
- Genoa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Medinah
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Roselle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bartlett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Itasca
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- Bloomingdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wood Dale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Addison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Carol Stream
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bensenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wayne
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- East Dundee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Carpentersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Elgin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sleepy Hollow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gilberts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- West Dundee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Freeman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Freeman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Coleman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- South Elgin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Elgin is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elgin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,646 people
- Pingree Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bowes Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
- Plato Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Fox River Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cary
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Trout Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Trout Valley is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
- Island Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Island Lake is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,951 people
- Oakwood Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,011 people
- Algonquin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lake-in-the-Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Barreville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Barreville is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barreville
- Holiday Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Holiday Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 574 people
- Prairie Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Grove is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,920 people
- Lakemoor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Crystal Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Will County
- Winston Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Winston Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston Village
- Kenosha County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Benet Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Benet Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benet Lake
- Lake Shangrila
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lake Shangrila is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shangrila
- Fossland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fossland is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Camp Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
- Twin Lakes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Twin Lakes is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,234 people
- Bristol
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,145 people
- Fox River
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fox River is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox River
- Salem Lakes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Salem Lakes is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Lakes
- Former names for Salem Lakes:
- Salem
- Silver Lake
- Woodworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Woodworth is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Pleasant Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
- Paddock Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
- Powers Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Powers Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers Lake
- Walworth County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Genoa City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Genoa City is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,981 people
- Pell Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pell Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pell Lake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Amherst, see our County-by-County Page for Amherst.
Cemeteries Near Amherst ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Amherst.
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 Amherst - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Amherst covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- St. Paul Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Deer Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cady Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lake Zurich Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- White Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- German Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hillside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fairfield Cemetery is located in Forest Lake.
- The Fairfield Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fairfield - English Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105619 <2>
- St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (355 more) ...
- Circle of Life Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Amherst in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Amherst.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Amherst, with the one closest to Amherst listed first.
- Barrington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lake Zurich
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Palatine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Long Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilmer
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilmer is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmer
- Wauconda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Arlington Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Buffalo Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Aptakisic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Prairie View
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Diamond Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Diamond Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Lake
- Half Day
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Half Day is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Day
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Leithton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Leithton is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leithton
- Rockefeller
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rockefeller is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockefeller
- Ivanhoe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ivanhoe is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Amherst. See our List of 1890's Communities around Amherst.
Newspapers Published in Amherst ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Amherst.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Amherst, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Amherst.
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 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 Amherst:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Kane County
- McHenry County
- Will County
- Kenosha County
- Walworth 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> | 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 Amherst, 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 from Point A (ie- Amherst) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |