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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 Grand Detour (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 Grand Detour. 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 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.

Grand Detour 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 Grand Detour. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Grand Detour:

  • Ogle County     (The home county of Grand Detour)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • Carthage
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Carthage is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Woosung
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Watertown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Watertown is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
    • Honey Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
    • Oregon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Morris
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Polo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Chana
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Buffalo Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Buffalo Grove is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Grove
    • Flagg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Maryland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Maryland is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
    • Haldane
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Haldane is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
    • Flagg Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
  • Bureau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • Ohio
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Van Orin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Walnut
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • La Moille
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Kasbeer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Limerick
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Limerick is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limerick
    • Greenoak
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Greenoak is located in Bureau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenoak
    • Arlington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • New Bedford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • Hazelhurst
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • South Elkhorn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
    • Hitt
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Hitt is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • Elkhorn Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
    • Milledgeville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Shannon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lanark
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Chadwick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Fair Haven
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
    • Georgetown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Georgetown is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
    • Zier Cors
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
    • Daggett ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Daggett is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
    • Ideal
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Ideal is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • Esmond
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Malta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Fairdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Shabbona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Shabbona Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
  • La Salle County
    • Mendota
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • Nachusa
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dixon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Franklin Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Eldena
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Ashton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Prairieville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Prairieville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Amboy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Lee Center
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Nelson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Inlet
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
    • Harmon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Sublette
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • West Brooklyn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Stephenson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • German Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Florence
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Florence is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
    • Ridott
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Bolton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bolton is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
    • Freeport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Whiteside County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • Penrose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
    • Rock Falls
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sterling
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Galt
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Coleta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Deer Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Malvern
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Malvern is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malvern
    • White Pigeon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • White Pigeon is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pigeon
    • Tampico
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Lyndon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Morrison
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Grand Detour, with the one closest to Grand Detour listed first.
    • Seward
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Alworth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • New Millford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • Winnebago
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Indian Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Pecatonica
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • North Park
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Rockford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Grand Detour ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Grand Detour.

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 Grand Detour - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Grand Detour Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Mt. Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Girton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Oak Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Dixon State School Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Chapel Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Burket Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Emmert Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Brethren Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pine Creek Christian Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Franklin Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (228 more) ...
    • Lighthouse Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sugar Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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 Grand Detour had a population of 253 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Nachusa
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Dixon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Franklin Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Woosung
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Daysville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Daysville is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daysville
  • Eldena
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Stratford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Stratford is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
  • Honey Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
  • Oregon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Prairieville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Prairieville is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
  • Ashton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Polo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Mount Morris
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Amboy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Chana
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Grand Detour. See our List of 1890's Communities around Grand Detour.

Newspapers Published in Grand Detour ...

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 192 newspapers that have been published in the area around Grand Detour.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Grand Detour, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Grand Detour.

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 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 Grand Detour:

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 Grand Detour, 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 from Point A (ie- Grand Detour) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.