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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 Bernice (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 Bernice. 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.

Bernice 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 Bernice. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bernice:

  • Cook County     (The home county of Bernice)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bernice, with the one closest to Bernice listed first.
    • Globe
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Globe is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
    • Lansing
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Calumet City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • South Holland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lynwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Thornton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Burnham
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Burnham is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
    • Dolton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Phoenix
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Phoenix is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,884 people
    • Glenwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ford Heights
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • East Hazel Crest
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • East Hazel Crest is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hazel Crest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,479 people
    • Harvey
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • DuPage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bernice, with the one closest to Bernice listed first.
    • Tedens ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Tedens is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
    • Hinsdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Willowbrook
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Clarendon Hills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Darien
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Westmont
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Brook
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Downers Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Brook Terrace
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
    • Utopia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Utopia is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
    • Elmhurst
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • South Elmhurst
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • South Elmhurst is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elmhurst
  • Kankakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bernice, with the one closest to Bernice listed first.
    • Grant Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
    • Sherburnville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
    • Illinoi
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Illinoi is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
    • Manteno
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Illiana Heights
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
    • Litchfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
    • Momence
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Saint George
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint George is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
  • Will County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bernice, with the one closest to Bernice listed first.
    • Willowbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Steger
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Crete
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • University Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Goodenow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Goodenow is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
    • Frankfort Square
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Frankfort Square is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
    • Monee
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Beecher
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Frankfort
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Mokena
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Homer Glen
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Gilletts ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Gilletts is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilletts
    • Goodings Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Goodings Grove is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodings Grove
  • Jasper County (IN)
    • Forest City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest City is located in Jasper County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
  • Lake County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bernice, with the one closest to Bernice listed first.
    • Hammond
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Munster
      (3 miles [4.8 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>
    • Hessville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Hessville is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
    • Highland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • East Chicago
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Dyer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Hartsdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Hartsdale is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
    • Whiting
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Griffith
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • New Elliott
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • New Elliott is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elliott
    • Schererville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Gary
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Ross
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Ross is located in Lake County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
  • Newton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bernice, with the one closest to Bernice listed first.
    • Sumava Resorts
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Lake Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
    • Thayer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
  • Porter County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bernice, with the one closest to Bernice listed first.
    • Ogden Dunes
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Ogden Dunes is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden Dunes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,083 people
    • Portage
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Portage is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portage
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 37,137 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Portage <1>
    • Willow Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Willow Creek is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
    • Woodland Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Woodland Village is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Wheeler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Wheeler is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
    • South Haven
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • South Haven is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
    • Babcock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Babcock is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
    • Burns Harbor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Dune Acres
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Dune Acres is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dune Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
    • Porter Crossroads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
    • Chesterton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Porter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Porter is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,840 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Porter <1>
    • Hebron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hebron is located in Porter County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,669 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hebron <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Bernice ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bernice.

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

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

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

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 in 1895, Bernice had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Lansing
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Globe
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Globe is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
  • Hammond
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • 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>
  • Calumet City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Maynard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Maynard is located in Lake County (IN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maynard
  • Berger
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Berger is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berger
  • South Holland
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Thornton Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Thornton Junction is located in Cook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton Junction
  • Thornton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Glenwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hessville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Hessville is located in Lake County (IN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
  • Gibson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Gibson is located in Lake County (IN)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Burnham
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Burnham is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
    • Homewood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Highland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Bernice ...

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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bernice.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bernice, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bernice.

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 helpful 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 Bernice:

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 Bernice, 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- Bernice) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.