Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Collins. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Collins to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Collins, please Contact Us.
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 Collins (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 Collins. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Collins is historic, it would have been located within present day Kankakee 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 Kankakee County: Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, Will, Lake (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Collins. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Collins:
- Kankakee County (The home county of Collins)
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Saint Anne
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hopkins Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
- Hopkins Park has also been known as:
- Hopkins Park village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <2>
- Sun River Terrace
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Aroma Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Momence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Litchfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Sammons Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sammons Point is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sammons Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
- Sammons Point has also been known as:
- Sammons Point village
- Kankakee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint George
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Illiana Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Bradley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Otto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Bourbonnais
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Richton Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Park Forest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sauk Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- South Chicago Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- South Chicago Heights is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,957 people
- Chicago Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Matteson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Cabery
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Kempton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Clarke City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- East Brooklyn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Papineau
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Beaverville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Martinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Chebanse
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Donovan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- L'Erable
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- Clifton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Iroquois
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Ashkum
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Watseka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Crescent City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sheldon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Danforth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Livingston County
- Cardiff
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cardiff is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Beecher
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Peotone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Goodenow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Goodenow is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Monee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wallingford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Wilton Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Custer Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Crete
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- University Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Symerton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Lakewood Shores
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood Shores is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Shores
- Steger
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Manhattan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Benton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Raub
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
- Earl Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Earl Park is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
- Jasper County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Fair Oaks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Forest City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- DeMotte
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- DeMotte is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeMotte
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,172 people
- DeMotte has also been known as:
- De Motte
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for DeMotte <2>
- Virgie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Rensselaer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Egypt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Egypt is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Collegeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Collegeville is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Illinoi
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Schneider
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Shelby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Lowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Dalecarlia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Cedar Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dinwiddie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Crown Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint John
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dyer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- 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 <2>
- Leroy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leroy is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Lake Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Sumava Resorts
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Morocco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Roselawn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Thayer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Mount Ayr
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mount Ayr is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Brook
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kentland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Foresman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
- Newton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Goodland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Collins, see our County-by-County Page for Collins.
Cemeteries Near Collins ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Collins.
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 Collins - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Collins covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Oakwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Old Baptist Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Concordia Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- St. Anne Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Anne Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Anne Twp. Cemetery
- The St. Anne Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Anne Cemetery
- Guiding Star Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Leggtown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rice - Bebe Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice - Bebe Cemetery
- The Rice - Bebe Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rice - Day Family Cemetery
- Beebe Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe Family Cemetery
- The Beebe Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bebe Family Cemetery
- Beebe Cemetery
- Beebee Cemetery
- Beebetown Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104680 <3>
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Airy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Aroma Park Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (211 more) ...
- Papineau Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- B'nai Israel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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.
While we didn't find Collins in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Collins.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Collins, with the one closest to Collins listed first.
- Koster
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Koster is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koster
- Saint Anne
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hopkins Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
- Hopkins Park has also been known as:
- Hopkins Park village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <2>
- Papineau
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Exline
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Exline is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Beaverville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Momence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Saint George
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Kankakee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Martinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Otto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Chebanse
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Grant Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Greenwich
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Greenwich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich
- L'Erable
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Collins. See our List of 1890's Communities around Collins.
Newspapers Published in Collins ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Collins.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Collins, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Collins.
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 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 Collins:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kankakee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- Ford County
- Grundy County
- Iroquois County
- Livingston County
- Will County
- Benton County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Newton County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Collins, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Collins) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |