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 Buffalo Grove (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 Buffalo Grove. 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 Buffalo Grove ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Buffalo Grove: Buffalo Grv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Buffalo Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Buffalo Grove.
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 northeast 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 north.
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 north 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.
Buffalo Grove is primarily located in Lake County. A portion of Buffalo Grove extends into 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 Lake County: Cook, McHenry, Allegan (MI), Berrien (MI), Van Buren (MI) & Kenosha (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Buffalo Grove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Buffalo Grove:
- Lake County (The home county of Buffalo Grove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- Aptakisic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Prairie View
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Lincolnshire
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Riverwoods
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Long Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Deerfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Indian Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Indian Creek is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Vernon Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bannockburn
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kildeer
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake
- Deer Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- Wheeling
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prospect Heights
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Capri Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Capri Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capri Village
- Arlington Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Palatine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Prospect
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Northbrook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Covenant Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Covenant Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covenant Village
- The Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- The Grove is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Grove
- Fairfax Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfax Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax Village
- Plum Grove Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Plum Grove Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Grove Village
- Rolling Meadows
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- Itasca
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Medinah
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wood Dale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bensenville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Roselle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomingdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Addison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Keeneyville is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- Bartlett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Elmhurst
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Glendale Heights
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- East Dundee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Carpentersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Elgin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sleepy Hollow
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- West Dundee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Coleman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Gilberts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- South Elgin
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Freeman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Freeman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Saint Charles
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pingree Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bowes Bend
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- Fox River Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Island Lake
(15 miles [24.1 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
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Cary
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Trout Valley
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Barreville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Barreville is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barreville
- Holiday Hills
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Algonquin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lake-in-the-Hills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lakemoor
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie Grove
(18 miles [29 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
- Crystal Lake
(19 miles [30.6 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 Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- Fossland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fossland is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Benet Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Benet Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benet Lake
- Lake Shangrila
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lake Shangrila is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shangrila
- Pleasant Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
- Bristol
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Camp Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
- Salem Lakes
(28 miles [45.1 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Woodworth is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Paddock Lake
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Kenosha
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Kenosha is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenosha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99,570 people
- Fox River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fox River is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox River
- Twin Lakes
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,234 people
- Walworth County (WI)
- Genoa City
(30 miles [48.3 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Buffalo Grove, see our County-by-County Page for Buffalo Grove.
Cemeteries Near Buffalo Grove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Buffalo Grove.
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 Buffalo Grove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Buffalo Grove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- St. Marys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Knopf Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Shalom Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Randhill Park Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wheeling Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Long Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Willow Lawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Wheeling Twp. Arlington Heights Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- English Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (323 more) ...
- Memory Gardens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gridley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- North Northfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
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, Buffalo Grove had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Buffalo Grove had a population of 40,161 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Buffalo Grove, with the one closest to Buffalo Grove listed first.
- Wheeling
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Aptakisic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Half Day
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Half Day is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Day
- Prairie View
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Long Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Palatine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arlington Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ridgeland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeland is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeland
- North Northfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- North Northfield is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Northfield
- Mount Prospect
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Deerfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Diamond Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Diamond Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Lake
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- The Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- The Grove is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Grove
- Shermerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Shermerville is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shermerville
- Leithton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Leithton is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leithton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Buffalo Grove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Buffalo Grove.
Newspapers Published in Buffalo Grove ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Buffalo Grove.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Buffalo Grove, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Buffalo Grove.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Buffalo Grove:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook 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 Buffalo Grove, 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- Buffalo Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |