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 Sturbridge Village (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 Sturbridge Village. 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 Sturbridge Village ...
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 Sturbridge Village: Sturbridge Vlg. (in Canada, 'Vlge.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Sturbridge Village. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Sturbridge Village.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Sturbridge Village 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 Sturbridge Village. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sturbridge Village:
- Winnebago County (The home county of Sturbridge Village)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Machesney Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Loves Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Roscoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rockford
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Argyle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Wempletown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Rockton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Shirland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- South Beloit
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- North Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- North Park is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
- Cherry Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Caledonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Timberlane
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Timberlane is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
- Poplar Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Belvidere
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Russellville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Irene
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Irene is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
- Capron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Garden Prairie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Herbert
(20 miles [32.2 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 Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Fairdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fairdale is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Kirkland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Esmond
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kingston
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Clare
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Point ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
- New Lebanon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Lebanon is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
- Charter Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Harvard
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Marengo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Big Foot Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Union
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Alden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ogle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Davis Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Monroe Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Stillman Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Byron
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Holcomb
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lindenwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Egan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Egan is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
- Leaf River
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Chana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Oregon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
- Stephenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Davis
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Ridott
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Rock City
(20 miles [32.2 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
- German Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dakota
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rock Grove is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Grove
- Afolkey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
- Cedarville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Freeport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Orangeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Red Oak
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Green County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Brodhead
(23 miles [37 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Albany
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Rock County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Beloit
(11 miles [17.7 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
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Garden Village is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Newark
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Shopiere
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shopiere is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shopiere
- Clinton
(17 miles [27.4 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tiffany is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
- Avon
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Hanover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hanover is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Orfordville
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Avalon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Avalon is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avalon
- Footville
(23 miles [37 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
- Emerald Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Emerald Grove is located in Rock County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Grove
- Walworth County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Sharon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,546 people
- Allens Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Allens Grove is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Grove
- Darien
(25 miles [40.2 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Foot Prairie is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Foot Prairie
- Delavan Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Delavan Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delavan Lake
- Walworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Walworth is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,827 people
- Delavan
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- 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
- Richmond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sturbridge Village, see our County-by-County Page for Sturbridge Village.
Cemeteries Near Sturbridge Village ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sturbridge Village.
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 Sturbridge Village - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sturbridge Village covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Harlem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sunset Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Owen Center Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. James & St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mt. Auburn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Marsh Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Scandinavian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Guilford Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Roscoe Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Meridian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (243 more) ...
- Guilford Turner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Scotch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Phillips Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 Sturbridge Village in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sturbridge Village.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sturbridge Village, with the one closest to Sturbridge Village listed first.
- Genet
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Genet is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genet
- Jonesville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jonesville is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Ruby
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ruby is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
- Harlem
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Harlem is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlem
- Rockford
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Roscoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Argyle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Argyle is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Wempletown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
- Rockton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Harrison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Harrison is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Greendale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Greendale is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Shirland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Caledonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Perryville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Perryville is located in Winnebago County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Cherry Valley
(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 Sturbridge Village. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sturbridge Village.
Newspapers Published in Sturbridge Village ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sturbridge Village.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sturbridge Village, 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 Sturbridge Village.
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 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 Sturbridge Village:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Winnebago County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- DeKalb County
- McHenry County
- Ogle County
- Stephenson 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 Sturbridge Village, 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 from Point A (ie- Sturbridge Village) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |