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 Bull Valley (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 Bull Valley. 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 Bull Valley ...
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 Bull Valley: Bull Vly. (or less commonly used: Bull Vally. or Bull Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bull Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bull Valley.
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.
Bull Valley is located in McHenry 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 McHenry County: Boone, Cook, DeKalb, Kane, Lake, Kenosha (WI) & Walworth (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Bull Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bull Valley:
- McHenry County (The home county of Bull Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Ridgefield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ridgefield is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgefield
- Terra Cotta
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Terra Cotta is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terra Cotta
- McHenry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barreville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barreville is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barreville
- Prairie Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie Grove is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,920 people
- Holiday Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Holiday Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 574 people
- Wonder Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wonder Lake is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wonder Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,837 people
- Wonder Lake has also been known as:
- Wonder Lake village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wonder Lake <1>
- McCullom Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- McCullom Lake is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCullom Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 996 people
- Lakewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Woodstock
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Greenwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Greenwood is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Garden Prairie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Capron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Russellville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Herbert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Poplar Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Belvidere
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Timberlane
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Timberlane is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
- Caledonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Irene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Barrington Hills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Barrington Hills is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,152 people
- Barrington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- South Barrington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- South Barrington is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,976 people
- Capri Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Capri Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capri Village
- Hoffman Estates
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Palatine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Plum Grove Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Plum Grove Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Grove Village
- Streamwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Winthrop Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Winthrop Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop Village
- Fairfax Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfax Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax Village
- Rolling Meadows
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- New Lebanon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- New Lebanon is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
- Charter Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
- Genoa
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sycamore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- Brush Point ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
- Kirkland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Bartlett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wayne
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Keeneyville is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- Roselle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Medinah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomingdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Itasca
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ingalton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ingalton is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalton
- Carol Stream
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Chicago
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- West Chicago is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
- Wood Dale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Carpentersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Freeman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Freeman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Gilberts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- West Dundee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- East Dundee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Sleepy Hollow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Pingree Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Starks
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Starks is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starks
- Hampshire
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Elgin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- North Plato
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- North Plato is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Plato
- Plato Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Fox River Valley Gardens
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Port Barrington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Port Barrington is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,481 people
- Port Barrington has also been known as:
- Port Barrington village
- Volo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Wauconda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lake Barrington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Barrington is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,840 people
- Tower Lakes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tower Lakes is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tower Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,219 people
- Fort Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Fort Hill is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Hill
- Fox Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ingleside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Long Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Long Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Lake
- Fox Lake Hills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fox Lake Hills is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Lake Hills
- North Barrington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Barrington is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,938 people
- Winnebago County
- Argyle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Kenosha County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Twin Lakes
(16 miles [25.7 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
- Powers Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Powers Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers Lake
- Benet Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Benet Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benet Lake
- Camp Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
- Slades Corners
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Slades Corners is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slades Corners
- Fox River
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fox River is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox River
- Lake Shangrila
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shangrila is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shangrila
- Salem Lakes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Salem Lakes is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Lakes
- Former names for Salem Lakes:
- Salem
- Silver Lake
- Paddock Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
- Bristol
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bristol is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,145 people
- Fossland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Fossland is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Woodworth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Woodworth is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Racine County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Bohners Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bohners Lake is located in Racine County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bohners Lake
- Burlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Burlington is located in Racine County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,898 people
- Browns Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Browns Lake is located in Racine County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Lake
- Eagle Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Eagle Lake is located in Racine County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
- Honey Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Honey Creek is located in Racine County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Rochester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rochester is located in Racine County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,880 people
- Union Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Racine County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,266 people
- Walworth County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Genoa City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Pell Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pell Lake
- Zenda
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Zenda is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenda
- Big Foot Prairie
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Lake Geneva
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lake Geneva is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Geneva
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,096 people
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,743 people
- Walworth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Walworth is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,827 people
- Lake Como
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Como is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Como
- Williams Bay
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Williams Bay is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,657 people
- Como
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Como is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
- Lake Como Beach ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lake Como Beach is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Como Beach
- Springfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Springfield is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bull Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Bull Valley.
Cemeteries Near Bull Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bull Valley.
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 Bull Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bull Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Holcombville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- McMillan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bluff City Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ridgefield Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Crystal Lake Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Crystal Lake Memorial Park is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southeast of Ridgefield.
- The Crystal Lake Memorial Park has also been known as:
- Crystal Lake Union Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105324 <3>
- St. Patrick Countryside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ortend Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Thabor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (320 more) ...
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Ave. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ave. Cemetery
- The Lake Ave. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Crystal Lake Cemetery
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.<4>
While we didn't find Bull Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bull Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bull Valley, with the one closest to Bull Valley listed first.
- Ridgefield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ridgefield is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgefield
- Terra Cotta
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Terra Cotta is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terra Cotta
- McHenry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barreville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barreville is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barreville
- Woodstock
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ringwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Johnsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coyne
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coyne is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne
- Algonquin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Volo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Hartland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hartland is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Huntley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wauconda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Solon Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bull Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bull Valley.
Newspapers Published in Bull Valley ...
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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bull Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bull Valley, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bull Valley.
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 Bull Valley:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to McHenry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Cook County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Kane County
- Lake County
- Winnebago County
- Kenosha County
- Racine 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bull Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Bull Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |