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 Pecatonica (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 Pecatonica. 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.
Pecatonica is located in Winnebago 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 Winnebago County: Boone, DeKalb, Ogle, Stephenson, Green (WI) & Rock (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Pecatonica. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pecatonica:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Pecatonica)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Seward
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Winnebago
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alworth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Wempletown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Durand
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lake Summerset
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
- Shirland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Rockford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sturbridge Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Machesney Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rockton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Millford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Millford is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Caledonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Irene
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Timberlane
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Timberlane is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
- Belvidere
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Poplar Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Russellville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Shannon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Zier Cors
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
- Elkhorn Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
- Lanark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelhurst
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
- Hitt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hitt is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- South Elkhorn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Fairdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Esmond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kirkland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Egan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Leaf River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Byron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Adeline
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Baileyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stillman Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forreston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Morris
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Harper
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Harper is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Davis Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Maryland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Maryland is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
- Oregon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Haldane
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Haldane is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Ridott
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Davis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rock City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- German Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dakota
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Afolkey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Rock Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Cedarville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Freeport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Florence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Florence is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Red Oak
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Buena Vista
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Orangeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Twin Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Brodhead
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Monroe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
- Albany
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Albany is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
- Cadiz
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Mineral Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Browntown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Avon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Newark
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Beloit
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Orfordville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people
- Garden Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Hanover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Footville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Footville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 822 people
- Magnolia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Shopiere
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shopiere is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopiere
- Tiffany
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tiffany is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
- Clinton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,119 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pecatonica, see our County-by-County Page for Pecatonica.
Cemeteries Near Pecatonica ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pecatonica.
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 Pecatonica - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pecatonica covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Twelvemile Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Pecatonica Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wagner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Thompson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hulse Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ridott Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Prospect Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Irish Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Howard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Crane Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ridott Christian Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (269 more) ...
- Ridott Christian Reformed Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Winnebago Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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 Pecatonica had a population of 1,059 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Pecatonica had a population of 2,065 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pecatonica, with the one closest to Pecatonica listed first.
- Seward
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ridott
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Egan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Davis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wempletown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Durand
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- German Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Myrtle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Myrtle is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Rock City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Dakota
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- South Freeport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Freeport is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Freeport
- Harrison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harrison is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Leaf River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Shirland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Adeline
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pecatonica. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pecatonica.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Pecatonica ...
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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pecatonica.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Pecatonica. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Pecatonica and those printed in the larger area surrounding Pecatonica.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<4> of Pecatonica.
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 Pecatonica:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Carroll County
- DeKalb County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson County
- Green County
- Rock 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 Pecatonica, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Pecatonica) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |