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 Saratoga (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 Saratoga. 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 and hospitals 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.
Saratoga is located in Grundy 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 Grundy County: Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle, Livingston & Will.
Below are the counties that are near Saratoga. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Saratoga:
- Grundy County (The home county of Saratoga)
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Morris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sand Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Minooka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Nettle Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Claypool
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Channahon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Wauponsee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Carbon Hill
(13 miles [20.9 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
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mazon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Diamond
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cook County
- Lemont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Sandwich
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Somonauk
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Franks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Franks is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
- Hinckley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Waterman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shabbona Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Eola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Naperville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Woodridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tedens ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tedens is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
- Warrenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lisle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Chicago
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- West Chicago is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
- Darien
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Sugar Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Aurora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Big Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- North Aurora
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Mooseheart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Kaneville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Batavia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Elburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Geneva
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Essex
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Reddick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bonfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Union Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Lisbon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Plattville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Newark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yorkville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bristol
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Oswego
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Plano
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Boulder Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
- Montgomery
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Little Rock
(19 miles [30.6 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 Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Stavanger
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Millington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sheridan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Seneca
(14 miles [22.5 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Blakes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Blakes is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
- Marseilles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wedron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dayton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Baker
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Baker is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Leland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Ottawa ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
- Ottawa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Radley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Radley is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
- East Paw Paw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Dwight
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sunbury
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Adams ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Budd
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Budd is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
- Cardiff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cardiff is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Blackstone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Missal
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Missal is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
- Campus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Shorewood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Summerfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Summerfield is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Blodgett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
- Walker
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Walker is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Elwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rockdale
(16 miles [25.7 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
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
- Normantown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Normantown is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
- Plainfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Braidwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crest Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Joliet
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Godley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Saratoga, see our County-by-County Page for Saratoga.
Cemeteries Near Saratoga ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saratoga.
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 Saratoga - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Saratoga covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- Saratoga Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga Cemetery
- The Saratoga Cemetery has also been known as:
- Conklin Cemetery
- Osman Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108142 <2>
- Munger Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lisbon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Catholic North Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cryder Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Aux Sable Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Plattville Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Plattville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Lisbon Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Holderman & Hoge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Helmar Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (284 more) ...
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Holderman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sample Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<3>
While we didn't find Saratoga in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Saratoga.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Saratoga, with the one closest to Saratoga listed first.
- White Willow ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- White Willow is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Willow
- Lisbon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Plattville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Morris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sand Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Minooka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Nettle Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
- Divine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Divine is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divine
- Channahon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Newark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stavanger
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Pavillion
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pavillion is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Fox
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Fox is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox
- Millbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Saratoga. See our List of 1890's Communities around Saratoga.
Newspapers Published in Saratoga ...
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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saratoga.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Saratoga, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Saratoga.
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 Saratoga:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Grundy County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DeKalb County
- DuPage County
- Kane County
- Kankakee County
- Kendall County
- La Salle County
- Lee County
- Livingston 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 Saratoga, 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- Saratoga) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |