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 Kenwood (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 Kenwood. 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.
Kenwood is located in Champaign 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 Champaign County: Douglas, Edgar, Ford, McLean, Piatt & Vermilion.
Below are the counties that are near Kenwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kenwood:
- Champaign County (The home county of Kenwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Staley
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Staley is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
- Champaign
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Savoy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bondville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Urbana
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Seymour
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mira
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Lake of the Woods
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lake of the Woods is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake of the Woods
- Mahomet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tolono
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mayview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Sadorus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Philo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- De Witt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Farmer City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Watkins
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Watkins is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Parnell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Parnell is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
- Fullerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Fullerton is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
- Weldon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- De Witt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- De Witt is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Lane
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Birkbeck
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Hayes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Fairland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Villa Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- Chicken Bristle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Ficklin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Tuscola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Camargo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Garrett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Garrett is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Patterson Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Murdock
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Newman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Arthur
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chesterville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Palermo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Hume
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Proctor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Proctor is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
- Elliott
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Gibson City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Gibson City is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,275 people
- Gibson City has also been known as:
- Gibson
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson City <1>
- Paxton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Garber
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Garber is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
- Iroquois County
- Loda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Macon County
- Argenta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Bellflower
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kumler
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kumler is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kumler
- Laurette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Laurette is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurette
- Glen Avon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Glen Avon is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
- Saybrook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Arrowsmith
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Le Roy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- White Heath
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mansfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Monticello
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- De Land
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bement
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Atwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Voorhies
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Milmine
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cisco
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hammond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burrowsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Cerro Gordo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lintner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Fithian
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Muncie
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Allerton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Fairmount
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Armstrong
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Collison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Glenburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Glenburn is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenburn
- Oakwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Belgium Row
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Belgium Row is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgium Row
- Missionfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Missionfield is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionfield
- Newtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Newtown is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Archie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Sidell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kenwood, see our County-by-County Page for Kenwood.
Cemeteries Near Kenwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kenwood.
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 Kenwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kenwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Prairieview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Roselawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn Cemetery
- The Roselawn Cemetery has also been known as:
- New Mt. Hope Cemetery
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gregory Burial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Grandview Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Leal Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leal Park Cemetery
- The Leal Park Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Urbana Cemetery
- Lincoln Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Cemetery
- The Lincoln Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lincoln Memorial Gardens
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Woodlawn Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Urbana.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108933 <2>
- Champaign County Poor Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- East Lawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lawn Cemetery
- The East Lawn Cemetery has also been known as:
- Eastlawn Addition Cemetery
- Eastlawn Burial Park
- Eastlawn Cemetery
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Cemetery
- The Greenwood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Harvey Cemetery
- Continue List (232 more) ...
- St. Boniface Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fisher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bailey Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Memorial Cemetery
- The Bailey Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ash Grove Cemetery
- Tolono Grove Cemetery
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.<4>
While we didn't find Kenwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Kenwood.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kenwood, with the one closest to Kenwood listed first.
- Staley
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Staley is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
- Champaign
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Savoy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bondville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rising
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rising is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising
- Seymour
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mira
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Leverett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leverett is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leverett
- Mahomet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tolono
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Deers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Deers is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deers
- Sadorus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Philo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mayview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Sellers
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sellers is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kenwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kenwood.
Newspapers Published in Kenwood ...
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 234 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kenwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kenwood, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kenwood.
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 Kenwood:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Champaign County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- De Witt County
- Douglas County
- Edgar County
- Ford County
- Iroquois County
- Macon County
- McLean County
- Piatt County
- Vermilion 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Kenwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Kenwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |