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 Germantown Hills (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 Germantown Hills. 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 Germantown Hills ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: German Town Hills.
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 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.
Germantown Hills is located in Woodford 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 Woodford County: La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria & Tazewell.
Below are the counties that are near Germantown Hills. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Germantown Hills:
- Woodford County (The home county of Germantown Hills)
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Bay View Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
- Spring Bay
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- Metamora
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Eureka
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Roanoke
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Washburn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Goodfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Secor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Congerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Benson
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- El Paso
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Panola
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Woodford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Woodford is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Bureau County
- Milo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Milo is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milo
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Breeds
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Breeds is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
- Farmington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Banner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Yates City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Williamsfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Rutland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Priscilla ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Priscilla is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priscilla
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Hopewell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hopewell is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Lacon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Sparland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- La Rose
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Varna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Toluca
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Henry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Wenona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mason County
- Manito
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Carlock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Danvers
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Danvers is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
- Danvers has also been known as:
- Danver
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
- Stanford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yuton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yuton is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
- Hudson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gridley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Normal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Peoria Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mossville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Keller
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- Rome
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- North Peoria
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Peoria is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
- Peoria
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Chillicothe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- West Peoria
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Orange Prairie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pottstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pottstown is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
- Dunlap
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bellevue
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bellevue is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
- Norwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Norwood is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Magnolia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Putnam
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Speer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Castleton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bradford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Modena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Modena is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- West Jersey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Jersey is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
- Toulon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Harvard Hills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Harvard Hills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard Hills
- Trailpark Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Trailpark Gardens is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailpark Gardens
- Beverly Manor
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Beverly Manor is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Manor
- Sunnyland
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Robein
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Robein is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robein
- Farmdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
- Cooper
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Highway Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Highway Village is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highway Village
- Caldwell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Caldwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Gardena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gardena is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardena
- East Peoria
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- East Peoria is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peoria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,344 people
- Former name for East Peoria:
- Hilton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Germantown Hills, see our County-by-County Page for Germantown Hills.
Cemeteries Near Germantown Hills ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Germantown Hills.
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 Germantown Hills - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Germantown Hills covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Haedicke Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Winkler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- The Union Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hartman Cemetery
- Hickory Point Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sand Ridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Ficht Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Holland's Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland's Grove Cemetery
- The Holland's Grove Cemetery has also been known as:
- Gable Cemetery
- Wrenn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Roman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Bay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Guth Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (314 more) ...
- Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion Cemetery
- The Zion Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cedar Cemetery
- Zion Lutheran Cemetery
- Glendale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Washington Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Washington Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Old Washington Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Washington.
- The Old Washington Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2208178 <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>
While we didn't find Germantown Hills in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Germantown Hills.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Germantown Hills, with the one closest to Germantown Hills listed first.
- Spring Bay
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Metamora
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mossville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Keller
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- North Peoria
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Peoria is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
- Rome
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Farmdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
- Peoria
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cooper
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Cruger
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Cruger is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruger
- Cazenovia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cazenovia is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazenovia
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Alta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pottstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pottstown is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Germantown Hills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Germantown Hills.
Newspapers Published in Germantown Hills ...
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 316 newspapers that have been published in the area around Germantown Hills.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Germantown Hills, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Germantown Hills.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Germantown Hills:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Woodford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Fulton County
- Knox County
- La Salle County
- Marshall County
- Mason County
- McLean County
- Peoria County
- Putnam County
- Stark County
- Tazewell 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 Germantown Hills, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Germantown Hills) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |