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 Fairdale (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 Fairdale. 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.
Name Variations for Fairdale ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Another variation: Fair Dale.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Fairdale. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Fairdale.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
Fairdale is located in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County: Boone, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle & Winnebago.
Below are the counties that are near Fairdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fairdale:
- DeKalb County (The home county of Fairdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Kirkland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Esmond
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Clare
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Brush Point ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
- Genoa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Malta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- Sycamore
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- Charter Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
- De Kalb
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Lebanon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- New Lebanon is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Irene
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Herbert
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Belvidere
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Garden Prairie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Timberlane
(16 miles [25.7 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Caledonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Poplar Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Capron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Burlington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hampshire
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Maple Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Virgil
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Plato
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- North Plato is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Plato
- Starks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Starks is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starks
- Pingree Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lily Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lily Lake is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
- Plato Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bowes Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
- Freeman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Freeman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Elburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Steward
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Ashton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- The Burg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- East Paw Paw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Paw Paw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Compton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Inlet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Inlet is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
- Nachusa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- West Brooklyn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lee Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Marengo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Union
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Huntley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Harvard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Woodstock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lakewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Monroe Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lindenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Davis Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Holcomb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Creston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hillcrest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
- Stillman Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Rochelle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Flagg Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
- Chana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Byron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Flagg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Flagg is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- German Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ridott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- New Millford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- North Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- North Park is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
- Cherry Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Indian Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Rockford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Loves Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Argyle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Machesney Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Alworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Sturbridge Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Winnebago
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wempletown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Rock County (WI)
- Beloit
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Walworth County (WI)
- Sharon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sharon is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fairdale, see our County-by-County Page for Fairdale.
Cemeteries Near Fairdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fairdale.
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 Fairdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fairdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Hicks Mill Cronktown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Roseland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Porter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Maple Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Charter Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Flora Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Greenview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- South Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kilbuck Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lindenwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (246 more) ...
- Ault Road Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Vanderburgh Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bloods Point Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Fairdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fairdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fairdale, with the one closest to Fairdale listed first.
- Monroe Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Esmond
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Kirkland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lindenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Irene
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Clare
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Holcomb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Perryville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Perryville is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Colvin Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Colvin Park is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colvin Park
- Herbert
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- New Millford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Davis Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Reeds Crossing ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Reeds Crossing is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Crossing
- Cherry Valley
(9 miles [14.5 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 Fairdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fairdale.
Newspapers Published in Fairdale ...
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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fairdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fairdale, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fairdale.
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 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 Fairdale:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to DeKalb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Kane County
- Lee County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson County
- Winnebago County
- Rock County
- Walworth 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 Fairdale, 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- Fairdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |