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 Momence (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 Momence. 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 hospitals 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.
Momence is located in Kankakee 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 Kankakee County: Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, Will, Lake (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Momence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Momence:
- Kankakee County (The home county of Momence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Litchfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Sun River Terrace
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Grant Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Illiana Heights
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Saint George
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Illinoi
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Sherburnville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Hopkins Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
- Hopkins Park has also been known as:
- Hopkins Park village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <1>
- Aroma Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bradley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Manteno
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Anne
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Kankakee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Park Forest
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Richton Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sauk Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- South Chicago Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- South Chicago Heights is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,957 people
- Chicago Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ford Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Matteson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Olympia Fields
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Flossmoor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lynwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Glenwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Country Club Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Homewood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ford County
- Cabery
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grundy County
- Clarke City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Papineau
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Beaverville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Martinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Chebanse
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Donovan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- L'Erable
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- Clifton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Iroquois
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ashkum
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sheldon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Watseka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Crescent City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Danforth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Beecher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Peotone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Goodenow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Goodenow is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Monee
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Crete
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- University Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wallingford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Wilton Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Steger
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Willowbrook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Symerton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Frankfort
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Custer Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Jasper County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Forest City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Fair Oaks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- DeMotte
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- DeMotte is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeMotte
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,172 people
- DeMotte has also been known as:
- De Motte
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for DeMotte <1>
- Virgie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Stoutsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Illinoi
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Schneider
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Schneider is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Lowell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Shelby is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Lake Dalecarlia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Cedar Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Dinwiddie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Saint John
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dyer
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dyer is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,955 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
- Crown Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Leroy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Leroy is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Schererville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hartsdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hartsdale is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Lake Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Sumava Resorts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Thayer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Morocco
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Mount Ayr
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Ayr is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Brook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Foresman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
- Kentland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Porter County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Hebron
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Aylesworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Boone Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Porter Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Momence, see our County-by-County Page for Momence.
Cemeteries Near Momence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Momence.
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 Momence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Momence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Mt. Airy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Shrontz Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Momence Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Judes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Union Corner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. George Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Beebe Family Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe Family Cemetery
- The Beebe Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bebe Family Cemetery
- Beebe Cemetery
- Beebee Cemetery
- Beebetown Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104680 <2>
- Rice - Bebe Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice - Bebe Cemetery
- The Rice - Bebe Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rice - Day Family Cemetery
- Leggtown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Concordia Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (245 more) ...
- Guiding Star Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bible Witness Camp Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sherburnville Christian Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Momence had a population of 1,635 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Momence had a population of 3,049 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Momence, with the one closest to Momence listed first.
- Exline
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Exline is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exline
- Koster
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Koster is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koster
- Grant Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Saint George
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Hopkins Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
- Hopkins Park has also been known as:
- Hopkins Park village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <1>
- Sherburnville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Sollitt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sollitt is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sollitt
- Kankakee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Saint Anne
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lake Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Beecher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Papineau
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Peotone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwich
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Greenwich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich
- Otto
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Momence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Momence.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Momence ...
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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Momence.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Momence. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Momence and those printed in the larger area surrounding Momence.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4> of Momence.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Momence:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kankakee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- Ford County
- Grundy County
- Iroquois County
- Will County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Newton County
- Porter 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> | 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 Momence, 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- Momence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |