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 Nora (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 Nora. 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 hospitals and 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.
Nora is located in Jo Daviess 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 Jo Daviess County: Dubuque (IA), Jackson (IA), Carroll, Stephenson, Grant (WI) & Lafayette (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Nora. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Nora:
- Jo Daviess County (The home county of Nora)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Warren
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stockton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Apple River
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Scales Mound
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Elizabeth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hanover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bremen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bremen is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bremen
- Galena
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Aiken
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Aiken is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Galena Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Galena Junction is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena Junction
- Menominee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Menominee is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menominee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Polsgrove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Polsgrove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polsgrove
- Zier Cors
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
- Georgetown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Shannon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Blackhawk
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Blackhawk is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
- Mount Carroll
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Arnold
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Arnold is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Marcus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Marcus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcus
- Lanark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Center Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Center Hill is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Savanna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ayers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Hickory Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hickory Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Baileyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Harper
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Harper is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Forreston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Winslow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lena is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,680 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lena <1>
- Kent
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- McConnell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Salem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Salem is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Yellow Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yellow Creek is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Eleroy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Oneco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Oneco is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneco
- Red Oak
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Pearl City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Orangeville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Loran
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Loran is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loran
- Winnebago County
- Lake Summerset
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
- Dubuque County (IA)
- Wilkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wilkins is located in Dubuque County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkins
- Jackson County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Smiths
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Smiths is located in Jackson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths
- North Bellevue
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- North Bellevue is located in Jackson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bellevue
- Bellevue
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Green Island
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Green Island is located in Jackson County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Island
- Sabula
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Donatus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Grant County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Hazel Green
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hazel Green is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Green
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,219 people
- Cuba City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cuba City is located in Grant County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,047 people
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Cadiz
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Browntown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Monroe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
- Twin Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Monticello
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Monticello is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
- New Glarus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Glarus is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glarus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,136 people
- Mineral Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Iowa County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Moscow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Moscow is located in Iowa County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Hollandale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hollandale is located in Iowa County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollandale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Mineral Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral Point is located in Iowa County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,454 people
- Lafayette County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- South Wayne
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Gratiot
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gratiot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Wiota
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wiota is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiota
- Woodford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Woodford is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Fort Gratiot ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Gratiot
- Former name for Fort Gratiot:
- Gratiot Grove
- Shullsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shullsburg is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shullsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
- Argyle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Argyle is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Darlington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Darlington is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,317 people
- White Oak
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- White Oak is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Etna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Etna is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- New Diggings
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- New Diggings is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Diggings
- Calamine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Calamine is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamine
- Benton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Benton is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Nora, see our County-by-County Page for Nora.
Cemeteries Near Nora ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Nora.
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 Nora - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Nora covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Nora Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- East Chelsea Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- St. Annes Catholic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Chelsea Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Waddams Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crossroads Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Howardsille Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Christian Hollow Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Millville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Holley Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Holly Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Nora had a population of 309 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Nora had a population of 116 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Nora, with the one closest to Nora listed first.
- Warren
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Waddams Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Waddams Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waddams Grove
- Stockton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lena is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,680 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lena <1>
- Martintown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Martintown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martintown
- South Wayne
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Apple River
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Gratiot
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gratiot is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gratiot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 225 people
- Kent
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Yellow Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yellow Creek is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- McConnell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Browntown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Eleroy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dunbarton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dunbarton is located in Lafayette County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
- Schapville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Schapville is located in Jo Daviess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schapville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Nora. See our List of 1890's Communities around Nora.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Nora ...
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 117 newspapers that have been published in the area around Nora.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Nora. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Nora and those printed in the larger area surrounding Nora.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Nora.
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 Nora:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jo Daviess County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson County
- Winnebago County
- Dubuque County
- Jackson County
- Grant County
- Green County
- Iowa County
- Lafayette 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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Nora) 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 Nora, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |