RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Stephenson County >> Valley Creek >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Valley Creek. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Valley Creek to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Valley Creek, please Contact Us.

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 Valley Creek (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 Valley Creek. 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 Valley Creek ...

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 Valley Creek: Valley Crk. (or less commonly used: Valley Ck. or Valley Cr.)

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

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 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 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Valley Creek is historic, it would have been located within present day Stephenson 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 Stephenson County: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Winnebago, Green (WI) & Lafayette (WI).

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

  • Stephenson County     (The home county of Valley Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Ridott
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Freeport
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • German Valley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Florence
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Florence is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
    • Dakota
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cedarville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bolton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Bolton is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
    • Rock City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Rock City is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
    • Red Oak
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Oak is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
    • Afolkey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Afolkey is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afolkey
    • Davis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Davis is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 616 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Davis <2>
    • Eleroy
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Shannon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Georgetown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Georgetown is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
    • Zier Cors
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Zier Cors is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zier Cors
    • Lanark
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Elkhorn Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Elkhorn Grove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn Grove
    • Hitt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hitt is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
    • Hazelhurst
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • South Elkhorn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • South Elkhorn is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elkhorn
    • Milledgeville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Chadwick
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Carroll
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Polsgrove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Polsgrove is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polsgrove
  • Jo Daviess County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Nora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Nora is located in Jo Daviess County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nora <2>
    • Pleasant Valley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Valley is located in Jo Daviess County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
    • Stockton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Warren
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Warren is located in Jo Daviess County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,300 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Warren <2>
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Dixon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Prairieville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Prairieville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Nachusa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Baileyville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Adeline
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Adeline is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Egan
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Egan is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
    • Forreston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Harper
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Harper is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
    • Leaf River
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Haldane
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Haldane is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haldane
    • Maryland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Maryland is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland
    • Mount Morris
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Brookville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Brookville is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
    • Byron
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Polo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Whiteside County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Penrose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Penrose is located in Whiteside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penrose
    • Coleta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Seward
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Pecatonica
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Alworth
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Winnebago
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Lake Summerset
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Summerset is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Summerset
    • Durand
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Durand is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,387 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durand <2>
    • Wempletown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Wempletown is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wempletown
    • Shirland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Indian Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Rockford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Sturbridge Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
    • New Millford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
  • Green County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Twin Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Twin Grove is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
    • Cadiz
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Cadiz is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
    • Monroe
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Monroe is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,426 people
    • Browntown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Browntown is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browntown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 272 people
    • Brodhead
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Brodhead is located in Green County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodhead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
  • Lafayette County (WI)
    • South Wayne
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • South Wayne is located in Lafayette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wayne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
  • Rock County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Creek, with the one closest to Valley Creek listed first.
    • Avon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Avon is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
    • Newark
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Newark is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
    • Orfordville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Orfordville is located in Rock County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orfordville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people

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

Cemeteries Near Valley Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Creek.

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 Valley Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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.

While we didn't find Valley Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Creek.

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

  • South Freeport
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • South Freeport is located in Stephenson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Freeport
  • Baileyville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • German Valley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Ridott
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Freeport
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Adeline
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Adeline is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adeline
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
  • Egan
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Egan is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egan
  • Harper
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Harper is located in Ogle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
  • Forreston
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Seward
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Cedarville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Dakota
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Bolton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Bolton is located in Stephenson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
    • Pecatonica
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Leaf River
      (11 miles [17.7 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 Valley Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Creek.

Newspapers Published in Valley Creek ...

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 111 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Creek, 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 Valley Creek.

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 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 Valley Creek:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Valley Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Valley Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.