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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 Wilkinson (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 Wilkinson. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Wilkinson is located in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County: Boone, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle & Winnebago.

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

  • DeKalb County     (The home county of Wilkinson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Brush Point ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Brush Point is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Point
    • Clare
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Coltonville ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Coltonville is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coltonville
    • Sycamore
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
    • De Kalb
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Kingston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Kirkland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Malta
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Genoa
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cortland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Charter Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
    • Esmond
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Elva
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Elva is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elva
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Herbert
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Herbert is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
    • Irene
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Irene is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Belvidere
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Garden Prairie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Russellville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Russellville is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Timberlane
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Timberlane is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 934 people
    • Poplar Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Caledonia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Capron
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • DuPage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Wayne
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • West Chicago
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • West Chicago is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chicago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,593 people
    • Bartlett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Ingalton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Ingalton is located in DuPage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalton
  • Kane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Maple Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Burlington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Virgil
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Lily Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Lily Lake is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lily Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
    • North Plato
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • North Plato is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Plato
    • Hampshire
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Starks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Starks is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starks
    • Elburn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Kaneville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bowes Bend
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Bowes Bend is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowes Bend
    • Pingree Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Plato Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Wasco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Kendall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Little Rock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Little Rock is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock
    • Plano
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Plano is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plano <1>
    • Bristol
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Montgomery
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Yorkville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Boulder Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Boulder Hill is located in Kendall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder Hill
    • Millbrook
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • La Salle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Leland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Earlville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Lee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Steward
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • East Paw Paw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • East Paw Paw is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Paw Paw
    • Ashton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Paw Paw
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Radley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Radley is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radley
    • The Burg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • The Burg is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Burg
    • Compton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Franklin Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • West Brooklyn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Inlet
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Inlet is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inlet
  • McHenry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Marengo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Huntley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Algonquin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Crystal Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake-in-the-Hills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodstock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ridgefield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Ridgefield is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgefield
    • Harvard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Bull Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bull Valley is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,078 people
    • Cary
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cary is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,929 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cary <1>
    • Trout Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Trout Valley is located in McHenry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 508 people
  • Ogle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Creston
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Monroe Center
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Lindenwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Hillcrest
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Hillcrest is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,216 people
    • Rochelle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Holcomb
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Davis Junction
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Flagg Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Flagg Center is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg Center
    • Flagg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Flagg is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flagg
    • Stillman Valley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Chana
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Byron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Honey Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Honey Creek is located in Ogle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
  • Winnebago County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wilkinson, with the one closest to Wilkinson listed first.
    • Cherry Valley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • New Millford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • New Millford is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 851 people
    • North Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • North Park is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Park
    • Indian Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Rockford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Argyle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Argyle is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
    • Loves Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Machesney Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Alworth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Alworth is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alworth
    • Sturbridge Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sturbridge Village is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge Village
    • Winnebago
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Roscoe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Roscoe is located in Winnebago County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,406 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roscoe <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Wilkinson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilkinson.

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 Wilkinson - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Mayfield Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Vanderburgh Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Whitmore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Carmel Sycamore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Ault Road Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Lanan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • South Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Oaklawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Marys Catholic DeKalb Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Pleasant Street Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Malta Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (273 more) ...
    • Hudson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview Park Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Evergreen Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)

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.<2>

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

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

  • Clare
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • De Kalb
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Sycamore
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Sycamore is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,317 people
  • Malta
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Kirkland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Kingston
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Cortland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Genoa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Charter Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Charter Grove is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charter Grove
  • Esmond
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Colvin Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Colvin Park is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colvin Park
  • Creston
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Richardson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Richardson is located in Kane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
    • Herbert
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Herbert is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herbert
    • Maple Park
      (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 Wilkinson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wilkinson.

Newspapers Published in Wilkinson ...

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 113 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilkinson.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilkinson, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wilkinson.

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 Wilkinson:

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>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 Wilkinson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Wilkinson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.