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 Wilmington (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 Wilmington. 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 Wilmington ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for South Wilmington: S. Wilmington
You might be interested in other communities that are also named South Wilmington. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for South Wilmington.
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 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.
South Wilmington 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 South Wilmington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Wilmington:
- Grundy County (The home county of South Wilmington)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- East Brooklyn
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Gardner
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Clarke City
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- Braceville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Central City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Coal City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Carbon Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Carbon Hill is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Diamond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mazon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Town ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Highland Town is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
- Verona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Claypool
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Cabery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Kempton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Piper City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Chebanse
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ashkum
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Danforth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- L'Erable
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- L'Erable is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for L'Erable
- La Hogue
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Essex
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Reddick
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Union Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Buckingham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bonfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Goodrich
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Goodrich is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
- Herscher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Limestone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Limestone is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limestone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Irwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Irwin is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Bourbonnais
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bradley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Kankakee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Otto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Otto is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otto
- Kendall County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Lisbon
(23 miles [37 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Plattville is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plattville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 257 people
- Newark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Seneca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- 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>
- Ransom
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Marseilles
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stavanger
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Stavanger is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stavanger
- Kernan
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Grand Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Streator
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Kangley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Kangley is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- South Ottawa ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Cardiff
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cardiff is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardiff
- Dwight
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Campus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sunbury
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Emington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Adams ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Odell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Griswold
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Griswold is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Budd
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Budd is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
- Cullom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Saunemin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Eylar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Eylar is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eylar
- Blackstone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Godley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Braidwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Custer Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Lakewood Shores
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lakewood Shores is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Shores
- Wilmington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmington is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,597 people
- Blodgett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Blodgett is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
- Symerton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Symerton is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Symerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 91 people
- Elwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wilton Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wallingford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Shorewood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Manhattan
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Preston Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Preston Heights is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston Heights
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Wilmington, see our County-by-County Page for South Wilmington.
Cemeteries Near South Wilmington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Wilmington.
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 Wilmington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Wilmington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Cotton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Braceville - Gardner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Grand Prairie Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Essex Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Essex Twp. Cemetery
- The South Essex Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Essex Cemetery
- Essex Twp. Cemetery
- Foote Cemetery
- South Essex Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1964373 <2>
- North Essex Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Essex Twp. Cemetery
- The North Essex Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Essex Cemetery
- Essex Twp. Cemetery
- North Essex Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #107202 <2>
- Goodfarm Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Round Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Olivet Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Olivet Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Braidwood.
- The Mt. Olivet Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rose Hill Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #107052 <2>
- Old Mazon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wheeler Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Oakwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Braidwood.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #107252 <2>
- Bohemian Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (234 more) ...
- Bohemian National Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coleman Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Coleman Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Union Hill.
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 Wilmington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of South Wilmington.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Wilmington, with the one closest to South Wilmington listed first.
- Gardner
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mazonia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mazonia is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mazonia
- Braceville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Essex
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Reddick
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Braidwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coal City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Union Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Diamond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mazon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dwight
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Custer Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Custer Park is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer Park
- Campus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Buckingham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Wilmington. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Wilmington.
Newspapers Published in South Wilmington ...
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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Wilmington.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Wilmington, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Wilmington.
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 helpful 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 Wilmington:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Grundy County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ford County
- Iroquois County
- Kankakee County
- Kendall County
- La Salle 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 South Wilmington, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- South Wilmington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |