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 Vernon Hills (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 Vernon Hills. 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 and hospitals 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.
Vernon Hills is located in Lake 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 Lake County: Cook, McHenry, Allegan (MI), Berrien (MI), Van Buren (MI) & Kenosha (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Vernon Hills. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vernon Hills:
- Lake County (The home county of Vernon Hills)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Indian Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Indian Creek is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Mettawa
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mundelein
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Prairie View
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Libertyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Aptakisic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Lincolnshire
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Green Oaks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gilmer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Gilmer is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmer
- Buffalo Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bannockburn
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Wheeling
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Capri Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Capri Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capri Village
- Prospect Heights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Northbrook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Palatine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Arlington Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Plum Grove Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Plum Grove Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Grove Village
- Colonial Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colonial Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Covenant Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Covenant Village is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covenant Village
- Techny
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Barrington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Inverness
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Itasca
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Medinah
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Roselle
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wood Dale
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bensenville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bloomingdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Keeneyville is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- Addison
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Bartlett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carol Stream
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Elmhurst
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- East Dundee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carpentersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sleepy Hollow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Elgin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Dundee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gilberts
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Freeman
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Freeman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Coleman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- South Elgin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- South Elgin is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elgin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,646 people
- Pingree Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bowes Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
- Plato Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- McHenry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Island Lake
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Island Lake is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,951 people
- Fox River Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lakemoor
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cary
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Holiday Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Holiday Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 574 people
- Oakwood Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Hills is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,011 people
- Barreville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Barreville is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barreville
- Trout Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Trout Valley is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
- Prairie Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Prairie Grove is located in McHenry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,920 people
- Johnsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Algonquin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lake-in-the-Hills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kenosha County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Fossland
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fossland is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Benet Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Benet Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benet Lake
- Lake Shangrila
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lake Shangrila is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shangrila
- Pleasant Prairie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
- Bristol
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,145 people
- Woodworth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Woodworth is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Camp Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
- Salem Lakes
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Salem Lakes is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Lakes
- Former names for Salem Lakes:
- Salem
- Silver Lake
- Paddock Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
- Kenosha
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Kenosha is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenosha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99,570 people
- Fox River
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fox River is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox River
- Twin Lakes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Twin Lakes is located in Kenosha County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,234 people
- Walworth County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Genoa City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Genoa City is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,981 people
- Pell Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pell Lake is located in Walworth County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pell Lake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vernon Hills, see our County-by-County Page for Vernon Hills.
Cemeteries Near Vernon Hills ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vernon Hills.
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 Vernon Hills - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vernon Hills covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Willow Lawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Diamond Lake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Gridley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Long Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lake County Poor Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fairfield Cemetery is located in Forest Lake.
- The Fairfield Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fairfield - English Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #105619 <2>
- Knopf Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (313 more) ...
- Ascension Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ivanhoe Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Zurich Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 Vernon Hills in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Vernon Hills.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vernon Hills, with the one closest to Vernon Hills listed first.
- Leithton
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Leithton is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leithton
- Prairie View
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Prairie View is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie View
- Half Day
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Half Day is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Day
- Diamond Lake
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Diamond Lake is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Lake
- Long Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Aptakisic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Aptakisic is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aptakisic
- Rockefeller
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rockefeller is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockefeller
- Libertyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rondout
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rondout is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rondout
- Gilmer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Gilmer is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmer
- Buffalo Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ivanhoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ivanhoe is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Lake Forest
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lake Bluff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Zurich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vernon Hills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vernon Hills.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Vernon Hills ...
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 68 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vernon Hills.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Vernon Hills. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Vernon Hills and those printed in the larger area surrounding Vernon Hills.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4> of Vernon Hills.
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 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 Vernon Hills:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cook County
- DuPage County
- Kane County
- McHenry County
- Kenosha 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 Vernon Hills, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Vernon Hills) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |