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 River Oaks West (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 River Oaks West. 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 and doctors 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.
River Oaks West is located in Will 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 Will County: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall & Lake (IN).
Below are the counties that are near River Oaks West. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to River Oaks West:
- Will County (The home county of River Oaks West)
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Shorewood
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Summerfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Summerfield is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Rockdale
(5 miles [8 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
- Crystal Lawns
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
- Joliet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Preston Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Preston Heights is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston Heights
- Crest Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Plainfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Walker
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Walker is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Blodgett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
- Elwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- East Joliet
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- East Joliet is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Joliet
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Lemont
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Orland Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Orland Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tinley Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Palos Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burr Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Matteson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Indian Head Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Head Park is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,680 people
- Palos Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Palos Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Countryside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Sandwich
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Somonauk
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Franks
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Hinckley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Eola
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Naperville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Tedens ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Tedens is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
- Woodridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Darien
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lisle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Warrenville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Willowbrook
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Downers Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Westmont
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Clarendon Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hinsdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Minooka
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Channahon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sand Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Claypool
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Morris
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Carbon Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Carbon Hill is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Diamond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gaslight Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Coal City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Central City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Nettle Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Aurora
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- North Aurora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- North Aurora is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Aurora
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,144 people
- Sugar Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mooseheart
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Batavia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Big Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Geneva
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kaneville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Charles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Elburn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bonnie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bonnie is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonnie
- Bonnie has also been known as:
- Bonnie Valley
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Essex
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bonfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Manteno
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Union Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Goodrich
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Reddick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bourbonnais
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bradley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Limestone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Limestone is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Plattville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- 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 west)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Oswego
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Boulder Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Yorkville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bristol
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Newark
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Plano
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Little Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Little Rock is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Millington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stavanger
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Sheridan
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Seneca
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Serena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Blakes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Marseilles
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wedron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Baker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Dayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Leland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Livingston County
- Dwight
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to River Oaks West, see our County-by-County Page for River Oaks West.
Cemeteries Near River Oaks West ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of River Oaks West.
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 River Oaks West - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for River Oaks West covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Woodlawn Memorial Park #1
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- County Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn Memorial Park #2
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hills of Rest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Willard Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard Grove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Willard Grove Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside of Channahon
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108868 <2>
- Troutman Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Zarley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zarley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Zarley Cemetery is located in Joliet.
- The Zarley Cemetery has also been known as:
- Desplaines Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1269046 <2>
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. John the Baptist Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. John the Baptist Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. John the Baptist Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Joliet.
- The St. John the Baptist Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Johns Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #107908 <2>
- Continue List (356 more) ...
- Plainfield Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Twp. Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Plainfield Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Plainfield.
- The Plainfield Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Plainfield Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #244792 <2>
- Dresden Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McCune Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCune Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the McCune Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Elwood.
- The McCune Cemetery has also been known as:
- Asparagus Road Cemetery
- Jackson Creek Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2437050 <2>
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>
While we didn't find River Oaks West in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of River Oaks West.
These communities are listed based on their distance from River Oaks West, with the one closest to River Oaks West listed first.
- Caton Farm
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Caton Farm is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caton Farm
- Minooka
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Millsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Millsdale is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millsdale
- Channahon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Coynes
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coynes is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coynes
- Drummond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Drummond is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drummond
- Joliet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- White Willow ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- White Willow is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Willow
- Sand Ridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Divine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Divine is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divine
- Blodgett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
- Elwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Walker
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Walker is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Plainfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Plattville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around River Oaks West. See our List of 1890's Communities around River Oaks West.
Newspapers Published in River Oaks West ...
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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around River Oaks West.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of River Oaks West, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for River Oaks West.
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 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 River Oaks West:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Will County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kane County
- Kankakee County
- Kendall County
- La Salle County
- Livingston 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 River Oaks West, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- River Oaks West) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |