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 Leland (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 Leland. 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.
Leland is located in La Salle 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 La Salle County: Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam & Woodford.
Below are the counties that are near Leland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Leland:
- La Salle County (The home county of Leland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Baker
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Earlville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sheridan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Serena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Millington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Blakes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Wedron
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Prairie Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
- Triumph
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Waltham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Waltham is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
- Mendota
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Arlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- La Moille
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Dalzell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ladd
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Zearing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Zearing is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zearing
- Van Orin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hollowayville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hollowayville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowayville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 85 people
- Ottville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ottville is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottville
- Seatonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Somonauk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Shabbona Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Franks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Sandwich
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Waterman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Shabbona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hinckley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elva
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Elva is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
- Cortland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- De Kalb
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Malta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- DuPage County
- Eola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Nettle Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Morris
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Claypool
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Wauponsee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Minooka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Channahon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Big Rock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kaneville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Aurora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mooseheart
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Aurora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Aurora is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
- Virgil
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lily Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lily Lake is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
- Batavia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bonnie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bonnie is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
- Bonnie has also been known as:
- Bonnie Valley
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Millbrook
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Newark
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Plano
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Yorkville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lisbon
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Bristol
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Plattville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Oswego
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Boulder Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Montgomery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Radley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- East Paw Paw
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Paw Paw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Compton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- The Burg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- West Brooklyn
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Steward
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sublette
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Inlet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Inlet is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
- Lee Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ashton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Creston
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rochelle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Flagg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Flagg is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
- Flagg Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
- Hillcrest
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Normantown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Normantown is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
- Plainfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Shorewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Summerfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Summerfield is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Walker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Walker is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Leland, see our County-by-County Page for Leland.
Cemeteries Near Leland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Leland.
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 Leland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Leland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- St. Clara Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Little Indian Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Baker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pierce Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Victor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Old Stevens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Carter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Earl Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Northville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. John Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. John Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Theresa Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (258 more) ...
- Seaman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elerding Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Leland had a population of 554 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Leland had a population of 902 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Leland, with the one closest to Leland listed first.
- Baker
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Earlville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Northville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Northville is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northville
- Somonauk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rollo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rollo is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollo
- Radley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- Shabbona Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Sheridan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Franks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Serena
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sandwich
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Blakes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Millington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Waterman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Paw Paw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Leland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Leland.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Leland ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Leland.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Leland. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Leland and those printed in the larger area surrounding Leland.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3> of Leland.
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 websites either 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 Leland:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to La Salle County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kane County
- Kendall County
- Lee County
- Ogle County
- Will 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> | 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 Leland, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Leland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |