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 Palmer (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 Palmer. 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 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 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.
Palmer 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 Palmer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Palmer:
- Lake County (The home county of Palmer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Lakes of the Four Seasons
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Winfield
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Leroy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Deep River
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Deep River is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Crown Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Green Acres
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Green Acres is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
- Merrillville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dinwiddie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Hobart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lincoln Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln Village is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Village
- Lake Dalecarlia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Cedar Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- DeMotte
(13 miles [20.9 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
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Stoutsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Wheatfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Virgie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Tefft
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- Fair Oaks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gifford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gifford is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- LaPorte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- La Crosse
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Wanatah
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Haskell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Alida
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Alida is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
- Westville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Otis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Otis is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Hanna
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Holmesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Holmesville is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
- Union Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Door Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Door Village is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
- Kingsford Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Kingsford Heights is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsford Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,379 people
- Michigan City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Thayer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Sumava Resorts
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Mount Ayr
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Porter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Porter Crossroads
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Hebron
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Boone Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Wheeler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Aylesworth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- South Haven
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Valparaiso
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kouts
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Portage
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Willow Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Woodland Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Woodland Village is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Babcock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- Pulaski County
- Medaryville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Starke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- San Pierre
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Judson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Toto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Toto is located in Starke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
- Cook County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Lynwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sauk Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Ford Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lansing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Calumet City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Glenwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Globe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- South Chicago Heights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- 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
- Chicago Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Burnham
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Burnham is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
- South Holland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Park Forest
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Kankakee County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Sherburnville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Illinoi
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Illiana Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Grant Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Grant Park is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Litchfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Momence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkins Park
(29 miles [46.7 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>
- Will County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Willowbrook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Beecher
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Crete
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Goodenow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Goodenow is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Steger
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- University Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Monee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Peotone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Frankfort Square
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Frankfort Square is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Palmer, see our County-by-County Page for Palmer.
Cemeteries Near Palmer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Palmer.
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 Palmer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Palmer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Deer Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Frame Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Guernsey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Shurr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ludington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mosier Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Merriman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Deep River Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Maplewood Historic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Maplewood Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Chester Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (197 more) ...
- Cornell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fleming Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Blachly Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Palmer had a population of 50 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Palmer, with the one closest to Palmer listed first.
- Winfield
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Leroy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Hurlburt
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hurlburt is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurlburt
- Hebron
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Deep River
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Deep River is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Boone Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Crown Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ainsworth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ainsworth is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainsworth
- Sedley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sedley is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedley
- Merrillville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aylesworth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Wheeler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Orchard Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Orchard Grove is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Grove
- Hobart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Creston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Creston is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Palmer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Palmer.
Newspapers Published in Palmer ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Palmer.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Palmer, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Palmer.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Palmer:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jasper County
- LaPorte County
- Newton County
- Porter County
- Pulaski County
- Starke County
- Cook 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 Palmer, 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- Palmer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |