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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 Dune Acres (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 Dune Acres. 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 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.

Dune Acres 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 Dune Acres. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dune Acres:

  • Porter County     (The home county of Dune Acres)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dune Acres, with the one closest to Dune Acres listed first.
    • Porter
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Burns Harbor
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Chesterton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Babcock
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Babcock is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
    • Ogden Dunes
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Ogden Dunes is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden Dunes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,083 people
    • Beverly Shores
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Portage
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Willow Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Willow Creek is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
    • Woodland Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Town-of-Pines
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Town-of-Pines is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town-of-Pines
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 688 people
    • South Haven
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • South Haven is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
    • Tratebas Mill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
    • Suman
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Suman is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dune Acres, with the one closest to Dune Acres listed first.
    • Duneland Village of Gary
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Station
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Duneland Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Duneland Village is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duneland Village
    • New Chicago
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • New Chicago is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chicago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,937 people
    • Hobart
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Liverpool
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Liverpool is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
    • Deep River
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Deep River is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
    • Gary
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Gary is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 74,693 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gary <1>
    • Green Acres
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Green Acres is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
    • Merrillville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ross
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ross is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
    • Lakes of the Four Seasons
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Lottaville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lottaville is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lottaville
  • LaPorte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dune Acres, with the one closest to Dune Acres listed first.
    • Otis
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Otis is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
    • Holmesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Holmesville is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
    • Michigan City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Trail Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Trail Creek is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trail Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,985 people
    • Pottawattamie Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pottawattamie Park is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottawattamie Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
    • Westville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Waterford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Waterford is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
    • Alida
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Alida is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
    • Long Beach
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Haskell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Haskell is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
    • Michiana Shores
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Door Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Door Village is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
    • Wanatah
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Joseph County
    • New Carlisle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Cook County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dune Acres, with the one closest to Dune Acres listed first.
    • Burnham
      (22 miles [35.4 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
    • Calumet City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • East Side
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • East Side is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Side
    • Hegewisch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Hegewisch is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegewisch
    • Lansing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Lansing is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansing
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,059 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lansing <1>
    • Globe
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
    • Lynwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • South Chicago
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • South Chicago is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago
    • Calumet Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Calumet Heights is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet Heights
    • Dolton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Dolton is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,033 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dolton <1>
    • Stony Island
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Stony Island is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Island
    • Brookdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Brookdale is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookdale
    • Burnside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Burnside is located in Cook County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
  • Will County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dune Acres, with the one closest to Dune Acres listed first.
    • Willowbrook
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Steger
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Steger is located in Will County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steger
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,111 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Steger <1>
  • Berrien County (MI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dune Acres, with the one closest to Dune Acres listed first.
    • Michiana
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Grand Beach
      (18 miles [29 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
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Pier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakeside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakeside is located in Berrien County (MI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
    • Three Oaks
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Avery
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Avery is located in Berrien County (MI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
    • Harbert
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hazelhurst
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hazelhurst is located in Berrien County (MI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
    • Shorewood - Tower Hills - Harbert
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Sawyer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Dune Acres ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dune Acres.

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 Dune Acres - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Burstrom Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Bailly Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Chesterton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Patricks Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Furnessville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • McCool Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • James Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Robbins Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Gossett Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Temple of Israel Cemetery of Gary
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Dillingham Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (131 more) ...

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 Dune Acres in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dune Acres.

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

  • Porter
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Chesterton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Crisman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Crisman is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crisman
  • McCool
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • McCool is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCool
  • Babcock
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Babcock is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
  • Willow Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Willow Creek is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
  • Woodville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodville is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
  • Burdick
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Burdick is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdick
  • Miller
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Miller is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller
  • Suman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Suman is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
  • Lake Station
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Wheeler
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Wheeler is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Otis
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Otis is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
    • Hobart
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sedley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Sedley is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedley

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dune Acres. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dune Acres.

Newspapers Published in Dune Acres ...

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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dune Acres.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dune Acres, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dune Acres.

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 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 Dune Acres:

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 Dune Acres, 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' (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- Dune Acres) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.