RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Cook County >> Austin >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Austin (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 Austin. 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 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 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.

Austin is located in Cook 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 Cook County: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Lake (IN) & Berrien (MI).

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

  • Cook County     (The home county of Austin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Moreland
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Moreland is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
    • Oak Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Cragin
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Cragin is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cragin
    • Pacific Junction
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pacific Junction is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific Junction
    • Cicero
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Berwyn
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Berwyn is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwyn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 53,701 people
    • Forest Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • River Forest
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Elmwood Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • LaVergne
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • LaVergne is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaVergne
    • Grayland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Grayland is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayland
    • Dunning
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Dunning is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunning
  • DuPage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • South Elmhurst
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • South Elmhurst is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elmhurst
    • Elmhurst
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bensenville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hinsdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Brook Terrace
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Oak Brook Terrace is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Brook Terrace
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
    • Oak Brook
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Utopia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Utopia is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
    • Villa Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Villa Park is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,291 people
    • Clarendon Hills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • York Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • York Center is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York Center
    • Addison
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Lombard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Geneva
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Batavia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Coleman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Coleman is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Elgin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Saint Charles
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • East Dundee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Aurora
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Mooseheart
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • South Elgin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • South Elgin is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,646 people
    • North Aurora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • North Aurora is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Braeside
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Braeside is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braeside
    • Deerfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Ravinia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Ravinia is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravinia
    • Highland Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Riverwoods
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Buffalo Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bannockburn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Highwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Lincolnshire
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Aptakisic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Aptakisic is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
    • Prairie View
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairie View is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
    • Long Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Will County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Colonial Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Colonial Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Goodings Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Goodings Grove is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodings Grove
    • Winston Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Winston Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston Village
    • Bolingbrook
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bloomfield Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bloomfield Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Village
    • Homer Glen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Homer Glen is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer Glen
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,281 people
      • Homer Glen has also been known as:
      • Homer Glen village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer Glen <1>
    • Romeoville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Frankfort Square
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Frankfort Square is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
    • Mokena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Lockport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Frankfort
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Fairmont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairmont is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmont
  • Lake County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Whiting
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • East Chicago
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Hammond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hammond is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 75,342 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hammond <1>
    • Hessville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hessville is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
    • Highland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Munster
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Munster is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,483 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Munster <1>
    • Dyer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Dyer is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,955 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
    • Gary
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gary is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74,693 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gary <1>
    • Griffith
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hartsdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Hartsdale is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale

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

Cemeteries Near Austin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Austin.

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 Austin - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Concordia Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Forest Home Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Waldheim Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Joseph and Sons Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Free Sons of Israel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Waldheim Jewish Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Waldheim Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Mayrw Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Mayrw Cemetery
    • The Mt. Mayrw Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mt. Mayriv Cemetery
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • B'nai Abraham Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Isaiah Israel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (344 more) ...
    • Rosemont Park Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemont Park Cemetery
      • The Rosemont Park Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Rosemont Cemetery
    • Elmwood Memorial Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood Memorial Cemetery
      • The Elmwood Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Elmwood Cemetery
    • Menorah Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Austin had a population of 4,051 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Mandell
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Mandell is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandell
  • Central Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Central Park is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Park
  • Moreland
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Moreland is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
  • Oak Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Berwyn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Berwyn is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwyn
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 53,701 people
  • Humboldt Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Humboldt Park is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humboldt Park
  • Pacific Junction
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Pacific Junction is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific Junction
  • Galewood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Galewood is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
  • Cragin
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Cragin is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cragin
  • LaVergne
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • LaVergne is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaVergne
  • Clyde
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Clyde is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
  • Crawford
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Crawford is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Humboldt
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Humboldt is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humboldt
    • Simons
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Simons is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simons
    • Hermosa
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hermosa is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermosa

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Austin ...

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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Austin.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Austin. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Austin and those printed in the larger area surrounding Austin.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4> of Austin.

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 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 Austin:

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