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 University 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 University 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.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
University Park is primarily located in Will County. A portion of University Park extends into Cook 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 Will County: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall & Lake (IN).
Below are the counties that are near University Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to University Park:
- Will County (The home county of University Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Monee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Crete
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Steger
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Goodenow
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Goodenow is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Frankfort Square
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frankfort Square is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
- Frankfort
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Beecher
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Peotone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Willowbrook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mokena
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gilletts ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gilletts is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilletts
- Wallingford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wallingford is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Brisbane
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Brisbane is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brisbane
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Richton Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Park Forest
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Matteson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- South Chicago Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Chicago Heights is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,957 people
- Olympia Fields
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Chicago Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Flossmoor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sauk Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Country Club Hills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hazel Crest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Homewood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ford Heights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Glenwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Tedens ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tedens is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
- Darien
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Willowbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hinsdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clarendon Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Westmont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Downers Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Brook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lisle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Utopia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Utopia is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Channahon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Diamond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Minooka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Grant Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Manteno
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saint George
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Sherburnville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Momence
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bradley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Litchfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Illiana Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Illinoi
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Bourbonnais
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sun River Terrace
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Kankakee
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Aroma Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jasper County (IN)
- Forest City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Dyer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dyer is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,955 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
- Saint John
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Munster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hartsdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hartsdale is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
- Schererville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hammond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- New Elliott
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- New Elliott is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elliott
- Highland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Griffith
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hessville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hessville is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
- Lincoln Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lincoln Village is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Village
- Crown Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Sumava Resorts
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Thayer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Thayer is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Porter County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Hebron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Porter Crossroads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Wheeler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Woodland Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Portage
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Willow Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Ogden Dunes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ogden Dunes is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden Dunes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,083 people
- Boone Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- South Haven
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- South Haven is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to University Park, see our County-by-County Page for University Park.
Cemeteries Near University Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of University 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 University Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for University Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Skyline Memorial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Skyline Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Monee.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108271 <2>
- St. Paul Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Paul Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Paul Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Monee.
- The St. Paul Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Paul Evangelical Reformed Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108073 <2>
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- New German Evangelical Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Anne Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Pauls Evangelical Reform Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Schlem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Black Walnut Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Walnut Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Black Walnut Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the east of Monee.
- The Black Walnut Cemetery has also been known as:
- Trinity Cemetery
- Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2287816 <2>
- Evergreen Hill Memory Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Hill Memory Gardens
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Evergreen Hill Memory Gardens is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Steger.
- The Evergreen Hill Memory Gardens has also been known as:
- Evergreen Hill Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105615 <2>
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the west of Monee.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108636 <2>
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the south of Crete.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108588 <2>
- Continue List (317 more) ...
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Trinity Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
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.<4>
While we didn't find University Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of University Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from University Park, with the one closest to University Park listed first.
- Monee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Matteson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Crete
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Goodenow
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Goodenow is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Chicago Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Peotone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Beecher
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Homewood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Tinley Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Thornton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Eagle Lake is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Dyer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dyer is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,955 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dyer <1>
- Mokena
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sollitt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sollitt is located in Kankakee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sollitt
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around University Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around University Park.
Newspapers Published in University 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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around University Park.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of University Park, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for University Park.
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 professional and volunteer 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 University Park:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Will County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DuPage County
- Grundy County
- Kankakee County
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- Newton County
- Porter 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- University Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 University Park, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |