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 Deerfield (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 Deerfield. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Deerfield is primarily located in Lake County. A portion of Deerfield extends into Cook 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 Lake County: Cook, McHenry, Allegan (MI), Berrien (MI), Van Buren (MI) & Kenosha (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Deerfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Deerfield:
- Lake County (The home county of Deerfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- Highland Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bannockburn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Riverwoods
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ravinia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ravinia is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravinia
- Highwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Braeside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Braeside is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braeside
- Lincolnshire
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Aptakisic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Buffalo Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Prairie View
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Lake Forest
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mettawa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Creek is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- Northbrook
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Covenant Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Covenant Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covenant Village
- Techny
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Colonial Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Colonial Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Wheeling
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- The Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- The Grove is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Grove
- Glencoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Northfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Prospect Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Glenview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Winnetka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Des Plaines
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Arlington Heights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- Bensenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Itasca
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wood Dale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Medinah
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roselle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Addison
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomingdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Elmhurst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Keeneyville is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- South Elmhurst
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- South Elmhurst is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elmhurst
- Villa Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Villa Park is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,291 people
- Cloverdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Glendale Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- East Dundee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Carpentersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Elgin
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sleepy Hollow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- West Dundee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Coleman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- South Elgin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Elgin is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elgin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,646 people
- Gilberts
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Freeman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Freeman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Saint Charles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Geneva
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bowes Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
- Pingree Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- Fox River Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Island Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Island Lake is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,951 people
- Cary
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,011 people
- Trout Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Trout Valley is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
- Holiday Hills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Holiday Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 574 people
- Lakemoor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Algonquin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Barreville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Barreville is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barreville
- Prairie Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Prairie Grove is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,920 people
- Lake-in-the-Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Johnsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pistakee Highlands
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pistakee Highlands is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pistakee Highlands
- Kenosha County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- Fossland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fossland is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Pleasant Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
- Benet Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Benet Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benet Lake
- Lake Shangrila
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Shangrila is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shangrila
- Bristol
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,145 people
- Woodworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Woodworth is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Kenosha
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Kenosha is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenosha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99,570 people
- Camp Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
- Salem Lakes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Deerfield, see our County-by-County Page for Deerfield.
Cemeteries Near Deerfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Deerfield.
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 Deerfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Deerfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- Deerfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Northfield Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mooney Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- North Northfield Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeling Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Memorial Lawns
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ft. Sheridan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Vernon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (290 more) ...
- Northfield Oakwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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 Deerfield had a population of 279 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Deerfield had a population of 18,532 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Deerfield, with the one closest to Deerfield listed first.
- North Northfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Northfield is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Northfield
- Shermerville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shermerville is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shermerville
- Highland Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgeland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgeland is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeland
- Ravinia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ravinia is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravinia
- Wheeling
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Half Day
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Half Day is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Day
- The Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- The Grove is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Grove
- Glencoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie View
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Aptakisic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Buffalo Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Lakeview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lakeview is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Lake Forest
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lake Bluff
(7 miles [11.3 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 Deerfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Deerfield.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Deerfield ...
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 7 newspapers that have been published in the area around Deerfield.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Deerfield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Deerfield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Deerfield.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 4 miles [6.4 km]<4> of Deerfield.
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 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 Deerfield:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DuPage County
- Kane County
- McHenry County
- Kenosha 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> | 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 Deerfield, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Deerfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |