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 Belshaw (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 Belshaw. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Belshaw is located in Lake County.
To see how the shape of Indiana's 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 (IL), Kankakee (IL), Will (IL), Jasper, Newton & Porter.
Below are the counties that are near Belshaw. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belshaw:
- Lake County (The home county of Belshaw)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Lowell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Schneider
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Schneider is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Lake Dalecarlia
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Illinoi
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Shelby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shelby is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Cedar Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Dinwiddie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Leroy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Crown Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint John
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Winfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Lincoln Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lincoln Village is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Village
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Forest City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- DeMotte
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- DeMotte is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeMotte
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,172 people
- DeMotte has also been known as:
- De Motte
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for DeMotte <1>
- Fair Oaks
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Virgie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Stoutsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Wheatfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Gifford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gifford is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Tefft
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- Rensselaer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Collegeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Collegeville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
- Egypt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Egypt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- LaPorte County
- La Crosse
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Sumava Resorts
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lake Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Thayer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Morocco
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mount Ayr
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Ayr is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ayr
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Beaver City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Brook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Foresman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Foresman is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
- Porter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Hebron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Boone Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Aylesworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Porter Crossroads
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Kouts
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Wheeler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- South Haven
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Valparaiso
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Portage
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Woodland Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Village is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Babcock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Starke County
- San Pierre
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cook County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Sauk Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ford Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- South Chicago Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- South Chicago Heights is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,957 people
- Lynwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Chicago Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Park Forest
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Richton Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lansing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Glenwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Olympia Fields
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Flossmoor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Homewood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Iroquois County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Beaverville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Papineau
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Donovan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Martinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chebanse
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Iroquois
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Kankakee County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Sherburnville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Illinoi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Illiana Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Litchfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Grant Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Momence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkins Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkins Park is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 608 people
- Hopkins Park has also been known as:
- Hopkins Park village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins Park <1>
- Sun River Terrace
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sun River Terrace is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun River Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Saint George
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Manteno
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Saint Anne
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bradley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Will County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Beecher
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Goodenow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Goodenow is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Willowbrook
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Crete
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Steger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Monee
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- University Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Peotone
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Frankfort Square
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Frankfort Square is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
- Frankfort
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wallingford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wallingford is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallingford
- Wilton Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belshaw, see our County-by-County Page for Belshaw.
Cemeteries Near Belshaw ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belshaw.
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 Belshaw - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belshaw covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Sanders Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- West Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lake Prairie Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Lowell Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Edwards Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fuller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sherburnville Christian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Creston Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Orchard Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- German Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery
- The St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Petersberg Cemetery
- Lake Village Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (247 more) ...
- Brunswick Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Plum Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Schubert Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
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 Belshaw in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Belshaw.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belshaw, with the one closest to Belshaw listed first.
- Lowell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sherburnville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Orchard Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Orchard Grove is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Grove
- Creston
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Creston is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Shelby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shelby is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby
- Klaasville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Klaasville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klaasville
- Cedar Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lake Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Brunswick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Brunswick is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
- Thayer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Eagle Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Eagle Lake is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
- Sollitt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sollitt is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sollitt
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Grant Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Roselawn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Forest City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belshaw. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belshaw.
Newspapers Published in Belshaw ...
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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belshaw.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belshaw, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belshaw.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Belshaw:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jasper County
- LaPorte County
- Newton County
- Porter County
- Starke County
- Cook County
- Iroquois County
- Kankakee County
- Will County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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 Belshaw, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Belshaw) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |