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 Plano (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 Plano. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Plano is located in Kendall 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 Kendall County: DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, La Salle & Will.
Below are the counties that are near Plano. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plano:
- Kendall County (The home county of Plano)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Yorkville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Little Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Millbrook
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bristol
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Oswego
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Montgomery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Newark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Boulder Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Plattville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Lisbon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Lemont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hanover Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Streamwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Sandwich
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Franks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Somonauk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hinckley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Waterman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shabbona Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- Cortland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elva
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Elva is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
- Shabbona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- De Kalb
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sycamore
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
- Coltonville ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Eola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Naperville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Warrenville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- West Chicago
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- West Chicago is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
- Ingalton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ingalton is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalton
- Winfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lisle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wayne
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Woodridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wheaton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Carol Stream
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bartlett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Nettle Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Minooka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Morris
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Channahon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Claypool
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Wauponsee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Carbon Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Carbon Hill is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Coal City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Diamond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Big Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sugar Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kaneville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Aurora
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- North Aurora
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Mooseheart
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Maple Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Batavia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Geneva
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Campton Hills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Bonnie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bonnie is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
- Bonnie has also been known as:
- Bonnie Valley
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Millington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sheridan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Baker
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Serena
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blakes
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Stavanger
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Wedron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Earlville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dayton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Seneca
(25 miles [40.2 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>
- Prairie Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie Center is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Center
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- East Paw Paw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Radley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- Lee
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Paw Paw
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Steward
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Compton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- The Burg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- The Burg is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
- Ogle County
- Creston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Normantown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Normantown is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
- Plainfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Walker
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Walker is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Summerfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Summerfield is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Shorewood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Lawns
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
- Romeoville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bloomfield Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bloomfield Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Village
- Bolingbrook
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Crest Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Winston Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Winston Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston Village
- Colonial Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Colonial Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plano, see our County-by-County Page for Plano.
Cemeteries Near Plano ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plano.
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 Plano - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plano covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Plano Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Griswold Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Sandy Bluff Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bluff Cemetery
- The Sandy Bluff Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hart Cemetery
- Elmwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Darnell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fowler Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pavilion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavilion Cemetery
- The Pavilion Cemetery has also been known as:
- Pavillion Cemetery
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jericho Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Scott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oaklawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (306 more) ...
- St. Paul Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Welch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oakridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 Plano had a population of 1,825 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Plano had a population of 11,879 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plano, with the one closest to Plano listed first.
- Fox
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fox is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox
- Millbrook
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pavillion
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pavillion is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion
- Yorkville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Little Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- Sandwich
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bristol
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Big Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sugar Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Somonauk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Millington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Oswego
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Franks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Newark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Montgomery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Plano. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plano.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Plano ...
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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plano.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Plano. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Plano and those printed in the larger area surrounding Plano.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<4> of Plano.
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 helpful 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 Plano:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Kendall County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kane County
- La Salle County
- Lee County
- Ogle 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> | 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 Plano, 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- Plano) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |