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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 Creston (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 Creston. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.

Creston is located in Ogle 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 Ogle County: Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, Stephenson, Whiteside & Winnebago.

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

  • Ogle County     (The home county of Creston)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Hillcrest
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
    • Rochelle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Flagg Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
    • Lindenwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Flagg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Monroe Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Holcomb
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Davis Junction
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Chana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Stillman Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Honey Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Carthage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Irene
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Irene is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Herbert
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Herbert is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
    • Belvidere
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Garden Prairie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Timberlane
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Timberlane is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
    • Russellville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Russellville is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Caledonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Poplar Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Malta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Esmond
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Clare
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • De Kalb
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Fairdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Elva
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • Kirkland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Shabbona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Brush Point ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
    • Cortland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Waterman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Maple Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Virgil
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Burlington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Kaneville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Big Rock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Elburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lily Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lily Lake is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
    • North Plato
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • North Plato is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Plato
    • Hampshire
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Plato Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Starks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Starks is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starks
    • Bowes Bend
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Little Rock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Plano
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Earlville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Leland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Mendota
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Baker
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Triumph
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Steward
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ashton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • The Burg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • East Paw Paw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Paw Paw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Compton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • West Brooklyn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Franklin Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Inlet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Radley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Radley is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
    • Lee Center
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • McHenry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • Marengo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Creston, with the one closest to Creston listed first.
    • New Millford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • North Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Cherry Valley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Indian Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Rockford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Alworth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Winnebago
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Loves Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Machesney Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Argyle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Argyle is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
    • Sturbridge Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
    • Seward
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Creston ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Creston.

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 Creston - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • St. Patrick's Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Trinity Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Malta Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Lawnridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Steward Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Hudson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Lindenwood Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Flagg Center Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (241 more) ...
    • Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • South Grove Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • White Rock Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Creston had a population of 329 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Creston had a population of 642 people.

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

  • Malta
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Rochelle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Steward
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Esmond
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Flagg Center
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
  • Kings
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kings is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
  • Flagg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Flagg is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
  • Lee
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Lindenwood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Clare
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • De Kalb
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Holcomb
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • White Rock
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • White Rock is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
    • Monroe Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Shabbona
      (12 miles [19.3 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 Creston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Creston.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Creston ...

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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Creston.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Creston. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Creston and those printed in the larger area surrounding Creston.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<4> of Creston.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Creston:

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 Creston, 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- Creston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.