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 Shirland (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 Shirland. 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 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.
Shirland 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 Shirland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shirland:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Shirland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Rockton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wempletown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Durand
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sturbridge Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
- Roscoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- South Beloit
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lake Summerset
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
- Machesney Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Winnebago
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Loves Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pecatonica
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rockford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Alworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Alworth is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Caledonia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Timberlane
(18 miles [29 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Russellville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Belvidere
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Capron
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Irene
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Garden Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Herbert
(29 miles [46.7 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 Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Fairdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Kirkland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Harvard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Egan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Byron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Stillman Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Davis Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Leaf River
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adeline
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Adeline is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Holcomb
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Baileyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lindenwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Forreston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Morris
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oregon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Davis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Rock City
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Rock Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Ridott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dakota
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Afolkey
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- German Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedarville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Orangeville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Oneco
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Oneco is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneco
- Freeport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Red Oak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Dane County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Brooklyn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Brooklyn is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
- Hanerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hanerville is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanerville
- Albion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Albion is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Dunkirk
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dunkirk is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkirk
- 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
- Stone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stone is located in Dane County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Brodhead
(14 miles [22.5 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Albany
(21 miles [33.8 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral Point is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Point
- Monroe
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Attica
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Attica is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attica
- Monticello
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Monticello is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,185 people
- Dayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Cadiz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Newark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Beloit
(9 miles [14.5 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
- Avon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Garden Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Hanover
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Orfordville
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Footville
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Shopiere
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shopiere is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopiere
- Tiffany
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tiffany is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
- Clinton
(18 miles [29 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
- Janesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Janesville is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64,664 people
- Magnolia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Magnolia is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Avalon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Avalon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Walworth County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Sharon
(24 miles [38.6 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Allens Grove is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Grove
- Darien
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Richmond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Big Foot Prairie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Delavan Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Delavan Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan Lake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shirland, see our County-by-County Page for Shirland.
Cemeteries Near Shirland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shirland.
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 Shirland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shirland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Harrison Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shirland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Phillips Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Meridian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bethel Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hanford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- North Burritt Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oakland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Crane Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Owen Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rockton Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Newark Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (255 more) ...
- Laona Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Durand Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- St. Marys 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Shirland had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shirland, with the one closest to Shirland listed first.
- Harrison
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Harrison is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Newark
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Wempletown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Rockton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Durand
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Genet
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Genet is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genet
- Roscoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beloit
(9 miles [14.5 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
- Avon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Jonesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jonesville is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Ruby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ruby is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
- Harlem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harlem is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlem
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Davis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Pecatonica
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Afton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Afton is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shirland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shirland.
Newspapers Published in Shirland ...
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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shirland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shirland, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shirland.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Shirland:
- 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> | 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 Shirland, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Shirland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |