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 Big Rock (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 Big Rock. 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 Big Rock ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Bigrock.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Rock. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big Rock.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
Big Rock is located in Kane 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 Kane County: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kendall, McHenry & Will.
Below are the counties that are near Big Rock. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Rock:
- Kane County (The home county of Big Rock)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Sugar Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Kaneville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Elburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Aurora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- North Aurora is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
- Maple Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Aurora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mooseheart
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lily Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lily Lake is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
- Virgil
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Batavia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bonnie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bonnie is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
- Bonnie has also been known as:
- Bonnie Valley
- Campton Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Boone County
- Herbert
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Streamwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lemont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hoffman Estates
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Barrington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Barrington is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,976 people
- Schaumburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Hinckley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Franks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Sandwich
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Somonauk
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Waterman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cortland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elva
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Elva is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
- De Kalb
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shabbona Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Shabbona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- Sycamore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Eola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- West Chicago
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Chicago is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
- Warrenville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Naperville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Ingalton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ingalton is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalton
- Wayne
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Winfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wheaton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bartlett
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Carol Stream
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lisle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cloverdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Nettle Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Minooka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Morris
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Channahon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Claypool
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Little Rock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Plano
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bristol
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Yorkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Millbrook
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Boulder Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Oswego
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newark
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Plattville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Lisbon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Millington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Leland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sheridan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Baker
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Serena
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Earlville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blakes
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Stavanger
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Wedron
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
- Dayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Triumph
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- East Paw Paw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Lee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Radley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- Paw Paw
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Steward
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- The Burg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- Compton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Huntley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Algonquin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Creston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rochelle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hillcrest
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Normantown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Normantown is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
- Plainfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Walker
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walker is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Summerfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Summerfield is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Bloomfield Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bloomfield Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Village
- Bolingbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Romeoville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Winston Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Winston Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston Village
- Crystal Lawns
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
- Shorewood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Colonial Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Colonial Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Crest Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Rock, see our County-by-County Page for Big Rock.
Cemeteries Near Big Rock ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Rock.
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 Big Rock - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Rock covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Welch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Fowler Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- West Big Rock Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Scott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sugar Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Kaneville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Plano Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lance Souders Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lance Souders Cemetery
- The Lance Souders Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lance - Sounders Family Cemetery
- Community Methodist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Miller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (311 more) ...
- St. Paul Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oaklawn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Mound Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Big Rock had a population of 350 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Big Rock had a population of 1,121 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Little Rock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Hinckley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Kaneville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Plano
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Franks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Sandwich
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Yorkville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bristol
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bald Mound
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bald Mound is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Mound
- Elburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Millbrook
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fox
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fox is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox
- Montgomery
(10 miles [16.1 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 Big Rock. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Rock.
Newspapers Published in Big Rock ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Rock.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Rock, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Rock.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Big Rock:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kane County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Cook County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kendall County
- La Salle County
- Lee County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Will 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 Big Rock, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Rock) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |