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 McGirr (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 McGirr. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
McGirr is located in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County: Boone, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle & Winnebago.
Below are the counties that are near McGirr. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to McGirr:
- DeKalb County (The home county of McGirr)
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Elva
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elva is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
- Waterman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shabbona
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Shabbona Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Hinckley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- De Kalb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Malta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cortland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Franks
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- Clare
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sycamore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- Brush Point ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Herbert
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- Irene
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Belvidere
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Garden Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Eola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- West Chicago
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- West Chicago is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
- Wayne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Grundy County
- Nettle Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Maple Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Big Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Kaneville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Virgil
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sugar Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lily Lake
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Burlington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Campton Hills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bonnie
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bonnie is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
- Bonnie has also been known as:
- Bonnie Valley
- North Aurora
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- North Aurora is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
- Bowes Bend
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Little Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Plano
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Millbrook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bristol
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yorkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Newark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Boulder Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Oswego
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lisbon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Plattville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Leland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Earlville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Baker
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Sheridan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Millington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Serena
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mendota
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Blakes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Triumph
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
- Wedron
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Waltham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Waltham is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
- Troy Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Lee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Paw Paw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Steward
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Paw Paw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Radley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- Compton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- The Burg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- West Brooklyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ashton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Inlet
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Inlet is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
- Sublette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lee Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- McHenry County
- Huntley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Creston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rochelle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hillcrest
(16 miles [25.7 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
- Flagg Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
- Flagg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Flagg is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
- Lindenwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Holcomb
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Chana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Honey Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Stillman Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Carthage
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Carthage is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Winnebago County
- The following are listed by their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- New Millford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Cherry Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- North Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Park is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to McGirr, see our County-by-County Page for McGirr.
Cemeteries Near McGirr ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McGirr.
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 McGirr - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for McGirr covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- North Clinton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Afton Center Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Immauel Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Fairview Park Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lee Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hudson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- English Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Miller Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (259 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Malta Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<2>
While we didn't find McGirr in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of McGirr.
These communities are listed based on their distance from McGirr, with the one closest to McGirr listed first.
- Waterman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Shabbona
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Shabbona Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Lee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Malta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hinckley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- De Kalb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Franks
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Cortland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rollo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rollo is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollo
- Creston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Steward
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Paw Paw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around McGirr. See our List of 1890's Communities around McGirr.
Newspapers Published in McGirr ...
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 132 newspapers that have been published in the area around McGirr.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McGirr, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for McGirr.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 McGirr:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to DeKalb County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kane County
- Kendall County
- La Salle County
- Lee County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Winnebago 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 McGirr, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- McGirr) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |