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 Blackhawk Beach (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 Blackhawk Beach. 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 Blackhawk Beach ...
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 Blackhawk Beach: Blackhawk Bch.
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 and 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.
Blackhawk Beach is located in Porter 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 Porter County: Cook (IL), Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Starke & Berrien (MI).
Below are the counties that are near Blackhawk Beach. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blackhawk Beach:
- Porter County (The home county of Blackhawk Beach)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Suman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Suman is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
- Valparaiso
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Tratebas Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
- Babcock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- South Haven
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Chesterton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Porter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Wheeler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Burns Harbor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Portage
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Willow Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Dune Acres
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dune Acres is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dune Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Woodland Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland Village is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Stoutsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Tefft
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- Wheatfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- DeMotte
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Forest City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Virgie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Gifford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gifford is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Deep River
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Deep River is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Lakes of the Four Seasons
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hobart
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lake Station
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Duneland Village of Gary
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Chicago
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- New Chicago is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chicago
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,937 people
- Duneland Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Duneland Village is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duneland Village
- Winfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Green Acres
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Green Acres is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
- Liverpool
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Liverpool is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
- Merrillville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Leroy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Lottaville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lottaville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lottaville
- LaPorte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Alida
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Alida is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
- Westville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Haskell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Otis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Otis is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Wanatah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Holmesville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Holmesville is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
- Union Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Door Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Door Village is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
- Waterford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Waterford is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Michigan City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Trail Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Trail Creek is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trail Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,985 people
- Hanna
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- La Crosse
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Thayer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Pulaski County
- Denham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Denham is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denham
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Walkerton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- New Carlisle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Starke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- San Pierre
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- North Judson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hamlet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Toto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Toto is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
- Knox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Aldine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Aldine is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldine
- Grovertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Grovertown is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovertown
- Koontz Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Koontz Lake is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koontz Lake
- Cook County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Lansing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Calumet City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lynwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Burnham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Burnham is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
- Globe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Hegewisch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hegewisch is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegewisch
- Sauk Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- East Side
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- East Side is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Side
- Ford Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dolton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Glenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- South Holland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Chicago Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Will County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Willowbrook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Crete
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Steger
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Berrien County (MI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Michiana
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Beach is located in Berrien County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Beach
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- New Buffalo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Union Pier
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Three Oaks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeside
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeside is located in Berrien County (MI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blackhawk Beach, see our County-by-County Page for Blackhawk Beach.
Cemeteries Near Blackhawk Beach ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blackhawk Beach.
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 Blackhawk Beach - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blackhawk Beach covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Kinne Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Dillingham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Union Street Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Carter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kimball Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Graceland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Blachly Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Luther Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Quakerdom Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (149 more) ...
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Gossett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Robbins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 Blackhawk Beach in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blackhawk Beach.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blackhawk Beach, with the one closest to Blackhawk Beach listed first.
- Valparaiso
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Suman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Suman is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
- Woodville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Woodville is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Coburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Coburg is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coburg
- Babcock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Sedley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sedley is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedley
- Chesterton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Burdick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Burdick is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdick
- McCool
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- McCool is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCool
- Porter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Alida
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Alida is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
- Westville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Wheeler
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Haskell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Otis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Otis is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blackhawk Beach. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blackhawk Beach.
Newspapers Published in Blackhawk Beach ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blackhawk Beach.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blackhawk Beach, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blackhawk Beach.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Blackhawk Beach:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Porter County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jasper County
- Lake County
- LaPorte County
- Newton County
- Pulaski County
- Saint Joseph County
- Starke County
- Cook County
- Will County
- Berrien 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 Blackhawk Beach, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Blackhawk Beach) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |