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 Loretto (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 Loretto. 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.
Loretto is located in Livingston 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 Livingston County: Ford, Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle, McLean & Woodford.
Below are the counties that are near Loretto. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Loretto:
- Livingston County (The home county of Loretto)
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Emington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Eylar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Eylar is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eylar
- Odell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Saunemin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Griswold
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Griswold is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Swygert
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Swygert is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swygert
- Campus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dwight
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cayuga
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cayuga is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Cardiff
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cardiff is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Sunbury
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Adams ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Cullom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Kempton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cabery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Piper City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sibley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Roberts
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Melvin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Highland Town ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Highland Town is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
- Clarke City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- Gardner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Wilmington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Verona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- East Brooklyn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Kinsman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mazon
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Braceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Central City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Wauponsee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Coal City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- La Hogue
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
- Ashkum
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Clifton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Danforth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Thawville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chebanse
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Gilman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Onarga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Del Rey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Reddick
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buckingham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Union Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Herscher
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Essex
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Goodrich
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Bonfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Irwin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Limestone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Limestone is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Otto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Sammons Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- 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
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Ransom
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kernan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Streator
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Seneca
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Seneca is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,217 people
- Seneca has also been known as:
- Crotty
- Seneca village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seneca <1>
- Marseilles
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kangley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kangley is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Dana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Grand Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Leeds
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Leeds is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Stavanger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Weston
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Weston is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Chenoa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cropsey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Meadows
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Meadows is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
- Anchor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Gridley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Colfax
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lexington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Godley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Braidwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Custer Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Lakewood Shores
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lakewood Shores is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Shores
- Wilmington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmington is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,597 people
- Blodgett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Loretto, see our County-by-County Page for Loretto.
Cemeteries Near Loretto ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Loretto.
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 Loretto - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Loretto covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the northwest of Emington.
- The Union Cemetery has also been known as:
- Call Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2326028 <3>
- St. Paul Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- East Side Cemetery of Odell Township
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Odell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Odell.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108635 <3>
- Swygert Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sunny Slope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- McDowell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dwight Old Town Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (183 more) ...
- Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oaklawn Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Saunemin Five Mile Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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 Loretto in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Loretto.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Loretto, with the one closest to Loretto listed first.
- Eylar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Eylar is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eylar
- Scovel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Scovel is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scovel
- Emington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Odell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rugby
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Rugby is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Swygert
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Swygert is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swygert
- Saunemin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Griswold
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Griswold is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Campus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cayuga
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cayuga is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Dwight
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sunbury
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Nevada
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nevada is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevada
- Kempton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cullom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Loretto. See our List of 1890's Communities around Loretto.
Newspapers Published in Loretto ...
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 179 newspapers that have been published in the area around Loretto.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Loretto, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Loretto.
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 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 Loretto:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Livingston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ford County
- Grundy County
- Iroquois County
- Kankakee County
- La Salle County
- McLean 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Loretto) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Loretto, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |