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 Riverdale (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 Riverdale. 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 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.
Riverdale 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 Riverdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riverdale:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Riverdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Roscoe
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rockton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Beloit
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Machesney Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sturbridge Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Loves Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Argyle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Shirland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rockford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wempletown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Cherry Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Indian Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- North Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- North Park is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Caledonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Timberlane
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Timberlane is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
- Poplar Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Capron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Belvidere
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Russellville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Irene
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Garden Prairie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Herbert
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Herbert is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Fairdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Kirkland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Kingston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Esmond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Genoa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clare
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Brush Point ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Harvard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Marengo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hebron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Woodstock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Davis Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Monroe Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Stillman Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Byron
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Holcomb
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lindenwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Egan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Leaf River
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Davis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Rock City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rock City is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Ridott
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Dakota
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- German Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Afolkey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Cedarville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dane County (WI)
- Edgerton Beach Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Edgerton Beach Park is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton Beach Park
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Brodhead
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- Twin Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Albany
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Albany is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Population from the 2020 Census: 977 people
- Mineral Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Beloit
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Garden Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Shopiere
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shopiere is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopiere
- Clinton
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Tiffany
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tiffany is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
- Newark
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Avalon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avalon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Hanover
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Emerald Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Emerald Grove is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Grove
- Avon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Janesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Janesville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64,664 people
- Orfordville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people
- Footville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Footville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 822 people
- Walworth County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Sharon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sharon is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
- Allens Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Allens Grove is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Grove
- Darien
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Darien is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darien
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,591 people
- Big Foot Prairie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Walworth
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Walworth is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,827 people
- Delavan Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Delavan Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan Lake
- Delavan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Delavan is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,240 people
- Richmond
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,743 people
- Williams Bay
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Williams Bay is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,657 people
- Zenda
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Zenda is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenda
- Lake Como
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Como is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Como
- Como
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Como is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riverdale, see our County-by-County Page for Riverdale.
Cemeteries Near Riverdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riverdale.
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 Riverdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riverdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Roscoe Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rockton Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pinnacle Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Harlem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Scotch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Owen Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bamblett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Eastlawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (237 more) ...
- Oakwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Phillips Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Meridian Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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>
While we didn't find Riverdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riverdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Roscoe
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rockton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Genet
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Genet is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genet
- Harlem
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Harlem is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlem
- Argyle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Beloit
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Beloit is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beloit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,637 people
- Jonesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jonesville is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Ruby
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ruby is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
- Caledonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hunter is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Porters
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Porters is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porters
- Shirland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Harrison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Harrison is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Wempletown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Rockford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riverdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riverdale.
Newspapers Published in Riverdale ...
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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riverdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riverdale, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riverdale.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Riverdale:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- DeKalb County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson County
- Dane County
- Green County
- Rock County
- Walworth 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 Riverdale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Riverdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |