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 Whiting (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 Whiting. 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 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.
Whiting 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 Whiting. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Whiting:
- Lake County (The home county of Whiting)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- East Chicago
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hessville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hessville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
- Hammond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Highland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gary
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Munster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Griffith
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Ross
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ross is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Dyer
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hartsdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hartsdale is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsdale
- Duneland Village of Gary
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Duneland Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Duneland Village is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duneland Village
- Liverpool
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Liverpool is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
- LaPorte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- Michigan City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Otis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Otis is located in LaPorte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Porter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- Ogden Dunes
(15 miles [24.1 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
- 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
- Portage
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burns Harbor
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Dune Acres
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Wheeler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wheeler is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Babcock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Babcock is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babcock
- South Haven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- South Haven is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
- Chesterton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Porter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Tratebas Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
- Porter Crossroads
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Porter Crossroads is located in Porter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter Crossroads
- Cook County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- East Side
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Side is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Side
- Burnham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burnham is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
- Hegewisch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hegewisch is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegewisch
- Calumet Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Calumet Heights is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet Heights
- South Chicago
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- South Chicago is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago
- Stony Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Stony Island is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Island
- Calumet City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Burnside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burnside is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Dolton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Globe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Pullman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pullman is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullman
- Gano
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gano is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gano
- Brookdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brookdale is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookdale
- DuPage County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- Hinsdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Willowbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Clarendon Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tedens ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tedens is located in DuPage County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tedens
- Oak Brook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Darien
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Westmont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Brook Terrace
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Brook Terrace is located in DuPage County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Brook Terrace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,094 people
- South Elmhurst
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- South Elmhurst is located in DuPage County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Elmhurst
- Utopia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Utopia is located in DuPage County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utopia
- Elmhurst
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- York Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- York Center is located in DuPage County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York Center
- Downers Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Will County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- Willowbrook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Steger
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crete
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort Square
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort Square is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Square
- University Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goodenow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Goodenow is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodenow
- Frankfort
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Monee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mokena
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Goodings Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Goodings Grove is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodings Grove
- Homer Glen
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Homer Glen is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer Glen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,281 people
- Homer Glen has also been known as:
- Homer Glen village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer Glen <1>
- Beecher
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Gilletts ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gilletts is located in Will County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilletts
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Whiting, see our County-by-County Page for Whiting.
Cemeteries Near Whiting ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whiting.
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 Whiting - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Whiting covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Concordia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Berger Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hess Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- First Reformed of Lansing Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (298 more) ...
- Oak Woods Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Park Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mt. Forest Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Whiting had a population of 1,408 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Whiting had a population of 4,814 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Whiting, with the one closest to Whiting listed first.
- Hegewisch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hegewisch is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegewisch
- Burnham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burnham is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,040 people
- East Chicago
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Calumet City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hessville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hessville is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hessville
- Gibson
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Gibson is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Pine
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pine is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine
- South Chicago
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- South Chicago is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chicago
- Stony Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Stony Island is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Island
- Berger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Berger is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berger
- Globe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Globe is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Hammond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Ivanhoe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ivanhoe is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
- Cheltenham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cheltenham is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheltenham
- Pullman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pullman is located in Cook County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullman
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Whiting. See our List of 1890's Communities around Whiting.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Whiting ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Whiting.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Whiting. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Whiting and those printed in the larger area surrounding Whiting.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4> of Whiting.
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 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 Whiting:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- LaPorte County
- Porter County
- Cook County
- DuPage 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 Whiting, 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 from Point A (ie- Whiting) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |