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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 Crescent City (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 Crescent City. 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 northeast 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 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.

Crescent City is located in Iroquois 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 Iroquois County: Ford, Kankakee, Vermilion, Benton (IN) & Newton (IN).

Below are the counties that are near Crescent City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Crescent City:

  • Iroquois County     (The home county of Crescent City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crescent City, with the one closest to Crescent City listed first.
    • Watseka
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Danforth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodworth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
    • Woodland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Gilman
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Ashkum
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Schwer
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Schwer is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
    • Onarga
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • L'Erable
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
    • Del Rey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
    • Clifton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ridgeville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
    • La Hogue
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
  • Champaign County
    • Ludlow
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crescent City, with the one closest to Crescent City listed first.
    • Piper City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Roberts
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kempton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cabery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Melvin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Paxton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Elliott
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sibley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Kankakee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crescent City, with the one closest to Crescent City listed first.
    • Saint Anne
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Sammons Point
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Otto
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Otto is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
    • Irwin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Irwin is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
    • Aroma Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Herscher
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Kankakee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Limestone
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Limestone is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
    • Hopkins Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • 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 <1>
    • Sun River Terrace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
    • Buckingham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodrich
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
    • Bradley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crescent City, with the one closest to Crescent City listed first.
    • Charlotte
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Charlotte is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
    • Chatsworth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Cullom
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Griswold
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Griswold is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • Forrest
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Wing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Wing is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wing
    • Campus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cardiff
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cardiff is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
    • Emington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Saunemin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Strawn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Vermilion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crescent City, with the one closest to Crescent City listed first.
    • East Lynn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Rankin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Hoopeston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Coalton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Coalton is located in Vermilion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
    • Rossville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Benton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crescent City, with the one closest to Crescent City listed first.
    • Raub
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
    • Freeland Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Freeland Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland Park
    • Earl Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Earl Park is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
    • Dunn ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Dunn is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Gravel Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Gravel Hill is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
    • Ambia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Talbot
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Fowler
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Fowler is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,305 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fowler <1>
    • Wadena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Wadena is located in Benton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadena
    • Boswell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Newton County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crescent City, with the one closest to Crescent City listed first.
    • Kentland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Newton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
    • Beaver City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
    • Morocco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Morocco is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morocco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,086 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morocco <1>
    • Brook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Brook is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 941 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brook <1>
    • Goodland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Foresman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman

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

Cemeteries Near Crescent City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Crescent City.

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 Crescent City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Kirby Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Flesher Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Pierce Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bardon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Body Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Keen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Chamberlain Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Wenger Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Gilman Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Gilman Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Gilman.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1027535 <2>
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Mary's Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Mary's Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Gilman.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1032338 <2>
  • Continue List   (161 more) ...
    • St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Lyman Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Onarga Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onarga Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Onarga Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Onarga.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1926812 <2>

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, Crescent City had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Crescent City had a population of 547 people.

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

  • Watseka
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Woodworth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
  • Danforth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Gilman
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Onarga
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Schwer
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Schwer is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
  • Ashkum
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • L'Erable
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
  • Del Rey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
  • Ridgeville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
  • Clifton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Eastburn
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Eastburn is located in Iroquois County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastburn
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Martinton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • La Hogue
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
    • Milford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Crescent City ...

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 204 newspapers that have been published in the area around Crescent City.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Crescent City. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Crescent City and those printed in the larger area surrounding Crescent City.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Crescent City.

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 Crescent City:

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 Crescent City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- Crescent City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.