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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 Heritage West (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 Heritage West. 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 northwest 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 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.

Heritage West is located in Kane 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 Kane County: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kendall, McHenry & Will.

Below are the counties that are near Heritage West. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Heritage West:

  • Kane County     (The home county of Heritage West)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Mooseheart
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • North Aurora
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • North Aurora is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
    • Batavia
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Geneva
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Aurora
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Saint Charles
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sugar Grove
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bonnie
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Bonnie is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
      • Bonnie has also been known as:
      • Bonnie Valley
    • Elburn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Campton Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Campton Hills is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campton Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,063 people
      • Campton Hills has also been known as:
      • Campton Hills village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Campton Hills <1>
    • Wasco
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Kaneville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Cook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Hanover Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Streamwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hoffman Estates
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Schaumburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • South Barrington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • South Barrington is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Barrington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,976 people
    • Lemont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Berkeley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Burr Ridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Barrington Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Barrington Hills is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,152 people
    • Elk Grove Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillside
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Fairfax Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairfax Village is located in Cook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax Village
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Hinckley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Franks
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Franks is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
    • Sandwich
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Cortland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Sycamore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
    • Somonauk
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • De Kalb
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Charter Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • New Lebanon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • New Lebanon is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
    • Elva
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • Waterman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
  • DuPage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • West Chicago
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • West Chicago is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
    • Eola
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Warrenville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Ingalton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ingalton is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalton
    • Winfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Wayne
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Naperville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Wheaton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Carol Stream
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Bartlett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Glen Ellyn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Cloverdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Minooka
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Channahon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Sand Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
    • Nettle Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Boulder Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
    • Montgomery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Oswego
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Bristol
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Yorkville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Little Rock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Plano
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
    • Millbrook
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Plattville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Plattville is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
    • Newark
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Lisbon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Lisbon is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Millington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sheridan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Leland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Baker
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Serena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Deer Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Barrington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Lake Barrington is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Barrington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,840 people
    • North Barrington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • North Barrington is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Barrington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,938 people
    • Lake Zurich
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Fox River Valley Gardens
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Port Barrington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Port Barrington is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Barrington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,481 people
      • Port Barrington has also been known as:
      • Port Barrington village
    • Tower Lakes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Tower Lakes is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tower Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,219 people
    • Kildeer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Buffalo Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Forest Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Forest Lake is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake
  • Lee County
    • Lee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • McHenry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Algonquin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Huntley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Lake-in-the-Hills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Fox River Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Trout Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Trout Valley is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
    • Cary
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Cary is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,929 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cary <1>
    • Lakewood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Crystal Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Oakwood Hills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Oakwood Hills is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,011 people
    • Union
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Ridgefield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Ridgefield is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgefield
  • Will County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heritage West, with the one closest to Heritage West listed first.
    • Normantown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Normantown is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
    • Plainfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bloomfield Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bloomfield Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Village
    • Bolingbrook
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Walker
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Walker is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
    • Winston Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Winston Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston Village
    • Colonial Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Colonial Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Romeoville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Summerfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Summerfield is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
    • Crystal Lawns
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
    • Crest Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lockport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Heritage West ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Heritage West.

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 Heritage West - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Marmion Academy Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • River Hills Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Westside Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • West Batavia Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Resurrection Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Michael Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Marywood Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • East Batavia Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • East Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • West Aurora Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (382 more) ...

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 Heritage West in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Heritage West.

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

  • North Aurora
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • North Aurora is located in Kane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
  • Batavia
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Bald Mound
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bald Mound is located in Kane County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Mound
  • Geneva
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Aurora
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Sugar Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Eola
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Warrenhurst
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Warrenhurst is located in DuPage County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenhurst
  • Saint Charles
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Montgomery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Elburn
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Wasco
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Frontenac
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Frontenac is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontenac
    • Warrenville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Kaneville
      (8 miles [12.9 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 Heritage West. See our List of 1890's Communities around Heritage West.

Newspapers Published in Heritage West ...

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 153 newspapers that have been published in the area around Heritage West.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Heritage West, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Heritage West.

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 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 Heritage West:

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