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 Greenwich (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 Greenwich. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Greenwich is located in Kankakee 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 Kankakee County: Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, Will, Lake (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Greenwich. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Greenwich:
- Kankakee County (The home county of Greenwich)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Limestone
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Limestone is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Kankakee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bourbonnais
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bradley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Otto
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Irwin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Aroma Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sammons Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sammons Point is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sammons Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 237 people
- Sammons Point has also been known as:
- Sammons Point village
- Goodrich
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Bonfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Saint George
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Herscher
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Richton Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Matteson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Park Forest
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Chicago Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Chicago Heights is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,957 people
- Chicago Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Olympia Fields
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Cabery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kempton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Piper City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Clarke City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- East Brooklyn
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- South Wilmington
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Braceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Central City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Diamond
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gardner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Coal City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Carbon Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Carbon Hill is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Channahon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mazon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Chebanse
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Clifton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- L'Erable
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- Papineau
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ashkum
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Martinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beaverville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Danforth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Donovan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crescent City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Gilman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- La Hogue
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Cardiff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Cardiff is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Campus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cullom
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Emington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Griswold
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Griswold is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Dwight
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Charlotte
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Charlotte is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
- Saunemin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eylar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eylar is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eylar
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Custer Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Symerton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Wilton Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Peotone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lakewood Shores
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood Shores is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Shores
- Wallingford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Wilmington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmington is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,597 people
- Braidwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Godley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Manhattan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Elwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Beecher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Illinoi
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Schneider
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Lowell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Shelby is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Cedar Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Lake Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Sumava Resorts
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Morocco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Greenwich, see our County-by-County Page for Greenwich.
Cemeteries Near Greenwich ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Greenwich.
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 Greenwich - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Greenwich covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Van Meter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Limestone Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone Cemetery
- The Limestone Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hawkins Cemetery
- St. Rose Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Rose Cemetery
- The St. Rose Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Rose Catholic Cemetery
- St. Rose of Lima Cemetery
- All Saint Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Old State Hospital Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- State Hospital Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mound Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. James Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- B'nai Israel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kankakee Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (228 more) ...
- Smith Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Schreffler Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 in 1895, Greenwich had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Greenwich, with the one closest to Greenwich listed first.
- Kankakee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Irwin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Otto
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Goodrich
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Bonfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Chebanse
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Exline
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Exline is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Herscher
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Deselm
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Deselm is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deselm
- Saint George
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Union Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Clifton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Saint Anne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Koster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Koster is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koster
- Buckingham
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Greenwich. See our List of 1890's Communities around Greenwich.
Newspapers Published in Greenwich ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Greenwich.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Greenwich, 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 Greenwich.
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 helpful 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 Greenwich:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kankakee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- Ford County
- Grundy County
- Iroquois County
- Livingston County
- Will County
- Lake County
- Newton 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 Greenwich, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Greenwich) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |