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 Shelby (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 Shelby. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Shelby 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 Shelby. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shelby:
- Lake County (The home county of Shelby)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Schneider
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Schneider is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schneider
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Dinwiddie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dinwiddie is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinwiddie
- Lowell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Dalecarlia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lake Dalecarlia is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dalecarlia
- Illinoi
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Illinoi is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Leroy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
- Cedar Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Crown Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Winfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Winfield is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
- Lakes of the Four Seasons
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint John
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lincoln Village
(19 miles [30.6 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 Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Forest City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- DeMotte
(7 miles [11.3 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
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Virgie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Stoutsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Wheatfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Gifford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gifford is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Tefft
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Tefft is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
- Rensselaer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Collegeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Collegeville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collegeville
- Egypt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Egypt is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- LaPorte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- La Crosse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wanatah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Haskell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Haskell is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Thayer
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Sumava Resorts
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Mount Ayr
(16 miles [25.7 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
- Morocco
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Beaver City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Brook
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Foresman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Foresman is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
- Goodland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kentland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Newton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Newton is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Porter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Hebron
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Aylesworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Aylesworth is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
- Boone Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boone Grove is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
- Porter Crossroads
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Kouts
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wheeler
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Valparaiso
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- South Haven
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Portage
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Willow Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Willow Creek is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Creek
- Woodland Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- 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
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Medaryville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Francesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Starke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- San Pierre
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- North Judson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- White County
- Lee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lee is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee
- Cook County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Sauk Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Ford Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lynwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- South Chicago Heights
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Chicago Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Park Forest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lansing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Glenwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Richton Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Olympia Fields
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Globe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Flossmoor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Iroquois County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Beaverville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Papineau
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Donovan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Martinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Iroquois
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Effner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Effner is located in Iroquois County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner
- Kankakee County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Illinoi
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Illinoi is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illinoi
- Illiana Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Illiana Heights is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana Heights
- Sherburnville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Litchfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Litchfield is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Grant Park
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Hopkins Park
(16 miles [25.7 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>
- Momence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Sun River Terrace
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- 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 Anne
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saint George
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saint George is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Aroma Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bradley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Will County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Beecher
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Goodenow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Goodenow is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Willowbrook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Crete
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Steger
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Peotone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Monee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- University Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shelby, see our County-by-County Page for Shelby.
Cemeteries Near Shelby ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shelby.
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 Shelby - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shelby covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Roselawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Plum Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Orchard Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sanders Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Village Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- St. Edwards Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lowell Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cemetery of the Reesurrection
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- DeMotte Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- West Creek Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lake Prairie Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (230 more) ...
- Creston Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sherburnville Christian Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
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 Shelby had a population of 60 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Thayer
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Thayer is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thayer
- Roselawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roselawn is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roselawn
- Forest City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Forest City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Lake Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Village is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
- Orchard Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Orchard Grove is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Grove
- Lowell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- DeMotte
(7 miles [11.3 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
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Virgie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Virgie is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Creston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Creston is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Sherburnville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sherburnville is located in Kankakee County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherburnville
- Kniman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Kniman is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kniman
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Hebron
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stoutsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
- Leroy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leroy is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shelby. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shelby.
Newspapers Published in Shelby ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shelby.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shelby, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shelby.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Shelby:
- 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
- White 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> | 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 Shelby, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shelby) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |