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 Munster (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 Munster. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 north 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.
Munster 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 Munster. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Munster:
- Lake County (The home county of Munster)
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Highland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hammond
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Dyer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hartsdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsdale is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
- Griffith
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hessville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hessville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
- New Elliott
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- New Elliott is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Elliott
- Schererville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ross
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ross is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- East Chicago
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Saint John
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lottaville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lottaville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lottaville
- Gary
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Forest City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- DeMotte
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- LaPorte County
- Westville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Sumava Resorts
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Thayer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Lake Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Roselawn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Porter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Portage
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wheeler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Willow Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Woodland Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Woodland Village is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Ogden Dunes
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ogden Dunes is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden Dunes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,083 people
- South Haven
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Babcock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Burns Harbor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Porter Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Hebron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chesterton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dune Acres
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dune Acres is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dune Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Porter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cook County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Lansing
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lynwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Calumet City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Globe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Ford Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sauk Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Burnham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Burnham is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
- South Holland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Thornton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Dolton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chicago Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- East Hazel Crest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Hazel Crest is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hazel Crest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,479 people
- DuPage County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Tedens ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Tedens is located in DuPage County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
- Willowbrook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Darien
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hinsdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clarendon Hills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westmont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Brook
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Woodridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kankakee County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Grant Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Sherburnville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Illinoi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Illiana Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Litchfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Manteno
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Momence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Saint George
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Will County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Willowbrook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Steger
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Crete
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Goodenow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Goodenow is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- University Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Beecher
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Monee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort Square
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Frankfort Square is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
- Frankfort
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mokena
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Peotone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gilletts ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Gilletts is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilletts
- Goodings Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Goodings Grove is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodings Grove
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Munster, see our County-by-County Page for Munster.
Cemeteries Near Munster ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Munster.
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 Munster - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Munster covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- First Reformed of Lansing Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Concordia Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hess Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hess Memorial Cemetery
- The Hess Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hessville Cemetery
- Lake County Cemetery
- North Twp. Cemetery
- Paupers Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2160949 <2>
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Michael Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (276 more) ...
- Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Assumption Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. James Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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 Munster in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Munster.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Munster, with the one closest to Munster listed first.
- Maynard
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Maynard is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maynard
- Highland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hammond
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Lansing
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dyer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hartsdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsdale is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
- Bernice
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bernice is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernice
- Calumet City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Griffith
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hessville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hessville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
- Gibson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gibson is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Globe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Schererville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ivanhoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ivanhoe is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
- Glenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Munster. See our List of 1890's Communities around Munster.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Munster ...
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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Munster.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Munster. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Munster and those printed in the larger area surrounding Munster.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4> of Munster.
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 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 Munster:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jasper County
- LaPorte County
- Newton County
- Porter County
- Cook County
- DuPage 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> | 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 Munster, 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 from Point A (ie- Munster) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |