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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 South Park (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 South Park. 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.

Name Variations for South Park ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Southpark.

  • A typical abbreviation for South Park: S. Park

You might be interested in other communities that are also named South Park. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for South Park.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

South Park is located in Kane 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 Kane County: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kendall, McHenry & Will.

Below are the counties that are near South Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Park:

  • Kane County     (The home county of South Park)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Aurora
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • North Aurora
      (5 miles [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
    • Mooseheart
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Batavia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Sugar Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Geneva
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Saint Charles
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Big Rock
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Bonnie
      (13 miles [20.9 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
    • Elburn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kaneville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Campton Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 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>
    • Wasco
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Cook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Lemont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Burr Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Hanover Park
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Streamwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Indian Head Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • 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
    • Western Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Willow Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Countryside
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • La Grange
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Berkeley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillside
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hodgkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Justice
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • DeKalb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Hinckley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Sandwich
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Franks
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Franks is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franks
    • Somonauk
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Cortland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Waterman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Elva
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
    • De Kalb
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sycamore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • Charter Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
    • Shabbona Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shabbona Grove
    • New Lebanon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • New Lebanon is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
  • DuPage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Eola
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Naperville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Warrenville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • West Chicago
      (10 miles [16.1 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
    • Winfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lisle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Lisle is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,153 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lisle <1>
    • Ingalton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ingalton is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalton
    • Woodridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Wheaton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Downers Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Wayne
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Carol Stream
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Glen Ellyn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Grundy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Minooka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Channahon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Sand Ridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Sand Ridge is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
    • Nettle Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Nettle Creek is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettle Creek
    • Morris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Claypool
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Claypool is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
    • Gaslight Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
    • Carbon Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 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
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Boulder Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
    • Montgomery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Oswego
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bristol
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Yorkville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Plano
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
    • Plattville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Plattville is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
    • Little Rock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Millbrook
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lisbon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lisbon is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
    • Newark
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Millington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Sheridan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Leland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Baker
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Baker is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
    • Serena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Stavanger
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Stavanger is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
    • Blakes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Blakes is located in La Salle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
  • McHenry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Algonquin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Huntley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Lake-in-the-Hills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Will County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.
    • Normantown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Normantown is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
    • Plainfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Walker
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Walker is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
    • Bloomfield Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Bloomfield Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield Village
    • Bolingbrook
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Winston Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Winston Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winston Village
    • Romeoville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Colonial Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Colonial Village is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Summerfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Summerfield is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
    • Crystal Lawns
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Crystal Lawns is located in Will County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lawns
    • Shorewood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Crest Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lockport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Park, see our County-by-County Page for South Park.

Cemeteries Near South Park ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Park.

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 South Park - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.

  • St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Montgomery.
    • The St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Pauls Cemetery
    • St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108071 <2>
  • Aurora Twp. Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • East Aurora Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • French Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Lincoln Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Spring Lake Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • West Aurora Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Solfisburg Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Keck Memorial Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (384 more) ...
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Wormley Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pearce Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)

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 South Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of South Park.

These communities are listed based on their distance from South Park, with the one closest to South Park listed first.

  • Aurora
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Montgomery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Frontenac
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Frontenac is located in DuPage County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frontenac
  • Oswego
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Eola
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • North Aurora
    (5 miles [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
  • Normantown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Normantown is located in Will County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normantown
  • Bristol
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Batavia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Warrenhurst
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Warrenhurst is located in DuPage County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenhurst
  • Sugar Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Yorkville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Plainfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Naperville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Warrenville
      (8 miles [12.9 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 South Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Park.

Newspapers Published in South Park ...

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 175 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Park.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Park, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Park.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 South Park:

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 South Park, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- South Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.