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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 Wanatah (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 Wanatah. 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 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.

Wanatah is located in LaPorte 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 LaPorte County: Jasper, Porter, Saint Joseph, Starke & Berrien (MI).

Below are the counties that are near Wanatah. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wanatah:

  • LaPorte County     (The home county of Wanatah)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Haskell
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Haskell is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
    • Hanna
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Alida
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Alida is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
    • Westville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Union Mills
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • La Crosse
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Kingsford Heights
      (10 miles [16.1 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
    • Holmesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Holmesville is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
    • Otis
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Otis is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
    • Door Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Door Village is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
    • Kingsbury
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsbury is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • La Porte
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Waterford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Waterford is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Tefft
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Tefft is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tefft
    • Wheatfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Stoutsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Stoutsburg is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoutsburg
    • DeMotte
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
    • Gifford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Gifford is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
    • Virgie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Virgie is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Lakes of the Four Seasons
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Deep River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Deep River is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
    • Winfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Winfield is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,265 people
    • Hobart
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Leroy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Leroy is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
    • Lake Station
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • New Chicago
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • New Chicago is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Chicago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,937 people
    • Green Acres
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Green Acres is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
    • Duneland Village of Gary
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Duneland Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Duneland Village is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duneland Village
    • Liverpool
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Liverpool is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
    • Merrillville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Crown Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Donaldson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Donaldson is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
    • Tyner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Tyner is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
    • Burr Oak
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Burr Oak is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burr Oak
    • Culver
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Culver is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,484 people
    • Harris
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Harris is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • La Paz
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • La Paz is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Paz
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
    • Plymouth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah 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
  • Porter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Suman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Suman is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
    • Valparaiso
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Kouts
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Tratebas Mill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
    • Aylesworth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Aylesworth is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aylesworth
    • Boone Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Boone Grove is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Grove
    • Babcock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Babcock is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
    • South Haven
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • South Haven is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
    • Porter Crossroads
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
    • Chesterton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Wheeler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Wheeler is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
    • Porter
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Burns Harbor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Pulaski County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Denham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Denham is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denham
    • Medaryville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Beardstown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Beardstown is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
    • Monterey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Monterey is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
    • Lawton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lawton is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
    • Winamac
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Francesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Saint Joseph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Walkerton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • North Liberty
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • New Carlisle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Crumstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
    • Zeigler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
  • Starke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • San Pierre
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • North Judson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Toto
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Toto is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toto
    • Hamlet
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Knox
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Knox is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,552 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Knox <1>
    • Aldine
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Aldine is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldine
    • Grovertown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Grovertown is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovertown
    • Koontz Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Koontz Lake is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koontz Lake
    • Bass Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bass Lake is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bass Lake
    • Ober
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ober is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ober
    • Ora
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Ora is located in Starke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
  • Berrien County (MI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wanatah, with the one closest to Wanatah listed first.
    • Michiana
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Grand Beach
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • 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
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Union Pier
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Three Oaks
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Avery
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Avery is located in Berrien County (MI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery

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

Cemeteries Near Wanatah ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wanatah.

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 Wanatah - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Luther Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • St. Martins Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Clinton Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Adam Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Graceland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Quakerdom Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Carter Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (158 more) ...
    • Eaheart Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Union Street Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Stoner Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Wanatah had a population of 684 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Wanatah had a population of 999 people.

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

  • South Wanatah
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • South Wanatah is located in LaPorte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wanatah
  • Haskell
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Haskell is located in LaPorte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskell
  • Thomaston
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Thomaston is located in LaPorte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomaston
  • Hanna
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Alida
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Alida is located in LaPorte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alida
  • Coburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Coburg is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coburg
  • La Crosse
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Union Mills
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Westville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Wellsboro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Wellsboro is located in LaPorte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsboro
  • Suman
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Suman is located in Porter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suman
  • Valparaiso
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Kouts
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Clanricarde
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Clanricarde is located in Porter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clanricarde
    • Wilders
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Wilders is located in LaPorte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilders

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wanatah ...

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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wanatah.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wanatah. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wanatah and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wanatah.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3> of Wanatah.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Wanatah:

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 Wanatah, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wanatah) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.