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 Western Star (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 Western Star. 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 southwest 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 south.
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 south 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.
Western Star is primarily located in Medina County. A portion of Western Star extends into Summit County.
To see how the shape of Ohio's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Medina County: Ashland, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Western Star. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Western Star:
- Medina County (The home county of Western Star)
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Wadsworth
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sharon Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Acme
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Acme is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- River Styx
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- River Styx is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Styx
- Youngs Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Youngs Corners is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Corners
- Poe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Poe is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poe
- Granger
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Granger is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
- Windfall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Windfall is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windfall
- Seville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Medina
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Briarwood Beach ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Briarwood Beach is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briarwood Beach
- Chippewa Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Chippewa Lake is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 749 people
- Former name for Chippewa Lake:
- Chippewa-on-the-Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chippewa Lake <1>
- Gloria Glens Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gloria Glens Park is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloria Glens Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Ashland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Albion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Albion is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Redhaw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Redhaw is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redhaw
- Rowsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rowsburg is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowsburg
- Polk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Polk is located in Ashland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Jeromesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cuyahoga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Bennetts Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Bennetts Corners is located in Cuyahoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Corners
- Brecksville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Broadview Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- North Royalton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Strongsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Binola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Binola is located in Cuyahoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binola
- Seven Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Independence
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Middleburg Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Walton Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Applecreek Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Applecreek Village is located in Cuyahoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Applecreek Village
- Berea
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Glenwillow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Glenwillow is located in Cuyahoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwillow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 917 people
- Geauga County
- Bainbridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Holmes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Mount Hope
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Holmesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Benton is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Lorain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Belden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Belden is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
- Eaton Estates
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Eaton Estates is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eaton Estates
- Grafton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lagrange
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pheasant Run Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pheasant Run Village is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pheasant Run Village
- Fields
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fields is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields
- Huntington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Huntington is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Nickelplate ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nickelplate is located in Lorain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nickelplate
- Wellington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- North Ridgeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Portage County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Suffield Station
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Suffield Station is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suffield Station
- Mishler
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Mishler is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mishler
- Brimfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Kent
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Brady Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brady Lake is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brady Lake
- Estimated population in 2018: 464 people
- Sugar Bush Knolls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Bush Knolls is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Bush Knolls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Rootstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Doolittles Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Doolittles Corners is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doolittles Corners
- Streetsboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ravenna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Camelot Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Camelot Village is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Village
- Pine Gate Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Gate Village is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Gate Village
- Aurora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Canal Fulton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Lawrence
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Uniontown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- East Greenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- East Greenville is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenville
- Sippo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sippo is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sippo
- Forty Corners Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Brookfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- West Brookfield is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brookfield
- Greentown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greentown is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greentown
- Rolling Hills Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mayflower Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mayflower Village is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayflower Village
- Hills and Dales
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hills and Dales is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills and Dales
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Massillon
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- North Canton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Summit County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Norton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Paxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Paxton is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Barberton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pigeon Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pigeon Creek is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Creek
- Copley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairlawn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Franklin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Franklin is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Franklin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,101 people
- Portage Lakes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Portage Lakes is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portage Lakes
- Montrose
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Montrose is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Akron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bath Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bath Center is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Center
- Comet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Comet is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Tuscarawas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Bolivar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dundee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Strasburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Doylestown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rittman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Marshallville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Sterling
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Creston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Burton City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Burton City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton City
- Orrville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Smithville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dalton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Weilersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Weilersville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weilersville
- Burbank
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Boys Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boys Village is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boys Village
- East Union
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Union is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Union
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Western Star, see our County-by-County Page for Western Star.
Cemeteries Near Western Star ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Western Star.
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 Western Star - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Western Star covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Norton Center Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn Cemetery
- The Woodlawn Cemetery has also been known as:
- Union Cemetery
- Chestnut Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Hill Cemetery
- The Chestnut Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Doylestown Cemetery
- St. Peter's & Paul's Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Doylestown Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Doylestown Methodist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Loyal Oak Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stimson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zwingli Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Holmes Brook Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Old Mennonite Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (591 more) ...
- Colliers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Shinersburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Easton 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Western Star had a population of 93 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Western Star, with the one closest to Western Star listed first.
- Sherman ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sherman is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Johnsons Corners
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Johnsons Corners is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsons Corners
- Wadsworth
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Doylestown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rittman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Easton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Easton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Sharon Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Barberton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Portage
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Portage is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Portage
- Copley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Acme
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Acme is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- River Styx
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- River Styx is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Styx
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Blake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Blake is located in Medina County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake
- Clinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fairlawn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Western Star. See our List of 1890's Communities around Western Star.
Newspapers Published in Western Star ...
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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Western Star.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Western Star, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Western Star.
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 Western Star:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Medina County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashland County
- Cuyahoga County
- Geauga County
- Holmes County
- Lorain County
- Portage County
- Stark County
- Summit County
- Tuscarawas County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
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 Western Star, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Western Star) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |