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 Norway (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 Norway. 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 doctors and 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.
Norway 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 Norway. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Norway:
- La Salle County (The home county of Norway)
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Serena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Sheridan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Blakes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Stavanger
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Wedron
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Millington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Baker
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Seneca
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Leland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ottawa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Ottawa ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Dalzell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cherry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ladd
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Arlington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Somonauk
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sandwich
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Franks
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Shabbona Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Hinckley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Waterman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Shabbona
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Elva
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elva is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
- DuPage County
- Eola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Nettle Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Morris
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wauponsee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Claypool
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Sand Ridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Kinsman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mazon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Verona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Channahon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Minooka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Highland Town ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Town is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Big Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sugar Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Kaneville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Aurora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Aurora
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Maple Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mooseheart
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Newark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lisbon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Millbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plattville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Plano
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Little Rock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Yorkville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bristol
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oswego
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Boulder Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Montgomery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Radley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- East Paw Paw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Paw Paw
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Compton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- The Burg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- West Brooklyn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Adams ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Budd
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Budd is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
- Missal
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Missal is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
- Blackstone
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sunbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Coalville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Vermilion City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
- Munster
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Munster is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
- Dwight
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Putnam County
- Standard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Shorewood
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Summerfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Summerfield is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Blodgett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
- Normantown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Normantown is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
- Plainfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walker is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Braidwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Godley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Crystal Lawns
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
- Elwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rockdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rockdale is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,884 people
- Crest Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Norway, see our County-by-County Page for Norway.
Cemeteries Near Norway ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norway.
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 Norway - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Norway covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Nelson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Fox River Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Norway Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Osmundson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Spradling Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Olson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- David Strawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whitehead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Brumbach Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Section Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sheridan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Elerding Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (265 more) ...
- Debolt Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Seaman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Manlius Methodist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Norway had a population of 95 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Norway, with the one closest to Norway listed first.
- Danway
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Danway is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danway
- Serena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Sheridan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Nettle Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Blakes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Wedron
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Stavanger
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Newark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Northville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Northville is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northville
- Millington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Lisbon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Baker
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Seneca
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Millbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Norway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Norway.
Newspapers Published in Norway ...
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 165 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norway.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Norway, 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 Norway.
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 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 Norway:
- 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
- Livingston County
- Putnam 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 Norway, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Norway) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |