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 Washington Heights (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 Washington Heights. 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 Washington Heights ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Washington Heights: Washington Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Washington Heights. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Washington Heights.
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 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.
Washington Heights is located in 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 Cook County: DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Lake (IN) & Berrien (MI).
Below are the counties that are near Washington Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Washington Heights:
- Cook County (The home county of Washington Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Heights, with the one closest to Washington Heights listed first.
- Pullman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pullman is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullman
- South Englewood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- South Englewood is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Englewood
- Calumet Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Gano
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gano is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gano
- Merrionette Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Burnside
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Burnside is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Chatham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chatham is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Blue Island
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Blue Island is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,616 people
- Calumet Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Calumet Heights is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet Heights
- Chicago Lawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Chicago Lawn is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicago Lawn
- Alsip
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- DuPage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Heights, with the one closest to Washington Heights listed first.
- Hinsdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Willowbrook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Clarendon Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Tedens ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Tedens is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
- Oak Brook
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Darien
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Westmont
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- South Elmhurst
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- South Elmhurst is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elmhurst
- Elmhurst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Brook Terrace
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Brook Terrace is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Brook Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
- Utopia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Utopia is located in DuPage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
- Downers Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Heights, with the one closest to Washington Heights listed first.
- Frankfort Square
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort Square is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
- Homer Glen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Homer Glen is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer Glen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,281 people
- Homer Glen has also been known as:
- Homer Glen village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer Glen <1>
- Goodings Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Goodings Grove is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodings Grove
- Steger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Frankfort
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mokena
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crete
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- University Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Willowbrook
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Gilletts ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gilletts is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilletts
- Monee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Colonial Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Colonial Village is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Lake County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Heights, with the one closest to Washington Heights listed first.
- Whiting
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- East Chicago
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hammond
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hessville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hessville is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
- Munster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Highland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dyer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Gary
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gary is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74,693 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gary <1>
- Griffith
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsdale is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
- Schererville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- New Elliott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- New Elliott is located in Lake County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elliott
- Porter County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Washington Heights, with the one closest to Washington Heights listed first.
- Ogden Dunes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ogden Dunes is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden Dunes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,083 people
- Portage
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Willow Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Woodland Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Burns Harbor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wheeler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Babcock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Babcock is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Dune Acres
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Dune Acres is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dune Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- South Haven
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- South Haven is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Porter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Washington Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Washington Heights.
Cemeteries Near Washington Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Washington Heights.
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 Washington Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Washington Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Washington Heights, with the one closest to Washington Heights listed first.
- Mt. Greenwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Olivet Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Olivet Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Blue Island.
- The Mt. Olivet Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #107055 <2>
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Park Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ever Rest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Beverly Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Beverly Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Blue Island.
- The Beverly Cemetery has also been known as:
- Beverly Memorial Park Cemetery
- Beverly Memorial Park
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104753 <2>
- Lincoln Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Mary Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Burr Oak Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (342 more) ...
- First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Alsip.
- The Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #106228 <2>
- Chapel Hills Gardens South
(5 miles [8 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Washington Heights had a population of 2,283 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Washington Heights, with the one closest to Washington Heights listed first.
- Beverly Hills
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Beverly Hills is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Hills
- Morgan Park
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Morgan Park is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Park
- Roseland
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Roseland is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Brainerd
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brainerd is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brainerd
- Mount Greenwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Greenwood is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Greenwood
- Gano
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gano is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gano
- Pullman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pullman is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullman
- Evergreen Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- South Englewood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- South Englewood is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Englewood
- Blue Island
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Blue Island is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,616 people
- Forest Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Forest Hill is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Kensington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kensington is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kensington
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Auburn Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Auburn Park is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Park
- South Lynn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- South Lynn is located in Cook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lynn
- Riverdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Washington Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Washington Heights.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Washington Heights ...
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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Washington Heights.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Washington Heights. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Washington Heights and those printed in the larger area surrounding Washington Heights.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4> of Washington Heights.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Washington Heights:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Cook County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- DuPage County
- Will County
- Lake 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> | 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 Washington Heights, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Washington Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |