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 Davis (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 Davis. 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 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.
Davis is located in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Winnebago, Green (WI) & Lafayette (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Davis. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Davis:
- Stephenson County (The home county of Davis)
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Rock City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Rock Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Dakota
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Afolkey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Ridott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cedarville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Orangeville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Oneco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Oneco is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneco
- Red Oak
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- German Valley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Freeport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- McConnell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Caledonia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Timberlane
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Timberlane is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
- Poplar Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Shannon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Zier Cors
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
- Georgetown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Lanark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jo Daviess County
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Nora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Warren
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Stockton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Egan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Baileyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Leaf River
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Byron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Forreston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Harper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harper is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Stillman Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Maryland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Maryland is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
- Mount Morris
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Haldane
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Haldane is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
- Davis Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oregon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Lake Summerset
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
- Durand
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pecatonica
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Shirland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Seward
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wempletown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Winnebago
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Alworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Rockton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sturbridge Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Rockford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Machesney Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Indian Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Dane County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Brooklyn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Brooklyn is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
- Belleville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Belleville is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,514 people
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Twin Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Brodhead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Monroe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
- Albany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Albany is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
- Mineral Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Cadiz
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Browntown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Attica
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Attica is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Monticello
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Monticello is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
- Dayton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Dayton is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- New Glarus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Glarus is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glarus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,136 people
- Lafayette County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- South Wayne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Woodford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodford is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Argyle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Argyle is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Avon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Newark
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Orfordville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people
- Hanover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Beloit
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Footville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Footville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 822 people
- Magnolia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Garden Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Evansville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Evansville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,556 people
- Shopiere
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shopiere is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopiere
- Janesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Janesville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64,664 people
- Tiffany
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tiffany is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
- Union
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Davis, see our County-by-County Page for Davis.
Cemeteries Near Davis ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Davis.
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 Davis - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Davis covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Irish Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Rock Run Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Felts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Howard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Durand Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Halvorson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (263 more) ...
- Pioneers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hulse Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Davis had a population of 539 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Davis had a population of 616 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Davis, with the one closest to Davis listed first.
- Rock City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Durand
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rock Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Dakota
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oakley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oakley is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Pecatonica
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Afolkey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Ridott
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Avon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Twin Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Cedarville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Harrison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Shirland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Seward
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Juda
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Juda is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juda
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Davis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Davis.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Davis ...
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 102 newspapers that have been published in the area around Davis.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Davis. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Davis and those printed in the larger area surrounding Davis.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3> of Davis.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Davis:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Stephenson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Carroll County
- Jo Daviess County
- Ogle County
- Winnebago County
- Dane County
- Green County
- Lafayette County
- Rock 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> | 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 Davis, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Davis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |