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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 Willow (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 Willow. 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.

Willow is located in Cuyahoga 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 Cuyahoga County: Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage & Summit.

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

  • Cuyahoga County     (The home county of Willow)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Garfield Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Garfield Heights is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,272 people
    • Cuyahoga Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Brooklyn Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Brooklyn Heights is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,479 people
    • Newburgh Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Newburgh Heights is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburgh Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,015 people
    • Slavic Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Slavic Village is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slavic Village
    • Independence
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Valley View
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Seven Hills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Maple Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Parma
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Parma is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 77,558 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parma <1>
    • Bedford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Brooklyn
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Geauga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Bainbridge
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • South Russell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • South Russell is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Russell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,713 people
    • Chesterland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Yates Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Yates Corners is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Corners
    • Auburn Corners
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Auburn Corners is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Corners
    • Aquilla
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Aquilla is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
    • Chardon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Burton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Welshfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Welshfield is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welshfield
    • West Bass Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • West Bass Lake is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bass Lake
    • East Claridon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • East Claridon is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Claridon
    • Middlefield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Willoughby Hills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wickliffe
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Willowick
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakeline
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakeline is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
    • Pecks Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Pecks Corners is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecks Corners
    • Waite Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Waite Hill is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waite Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 452 people
    • Willoughby
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Eastlake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Kirtland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Hill Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Hill Village is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill Village
    • Timberlake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Timberlake is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 642 people
    • Brentwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Brentwood is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
  • Lorain County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Fields
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Fields is located in Lorain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fields
    • North Ridgeville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Avon Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Avon Point
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Avon Point is located in Lorain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon Point
    • Avon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Avon is located in Lorain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,745 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avon <1>
    • Eaton Estates
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Eaton Estates is located in Lorain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eaton Estates
    • Sheffield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Belden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Belden is located in Lorain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
    • Grafton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Elyria
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Sheffield Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Lagrange
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Medina County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Hinckley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Brunswick
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Granger
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Granger is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granger
    • Valley City Station
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Valley City Station is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City Station
    • Youngs Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Youngs Corners is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Corners
    • Abbeyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Abbeyville is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbeyville
    • Valley City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Windfall
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Windfall is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windfall
    • Sharon Center
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Medina
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Poe
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Poe is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poe
    • River Styx
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • River Styx is located in Medina County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Styx
  • Portage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Aurora
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Camelot Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Camelot Village is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Village
    • Streetsboro
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Doolittles Corners
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Doolittles Corners is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doolittles Corners
    • Sugar Bush Knolls
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sugar Bush Knolls is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Bush Knolls
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
    • Mantua
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Kent
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Kent is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29,319 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kent <1>
    • Brady Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Brady Lake is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brady Lake
      • Estimated population in 2018: 464 people
    • Evergreen Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Evergreen Village is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
    • Hiram
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Hiram is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiram
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hiram <1>
    • Brimfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pine Gate Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Gate Village is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Gate Village
  • Summit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Northfield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Emmons Corner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Emmons Corner is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons Corner
    • Northfield Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Northfield Center is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northfield Center
    • Macedonia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Boston
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Boston is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
      • Boston has also been known as:
      • Boston Mill
      • Helltown
    • Richfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Bosworth ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bosworth is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosworth
    • Twinsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Reminderville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Reminderville is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reminderville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,643 people
    • Peninsula
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Boston Heights
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Boston Heights is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,312 people
    • Bath
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow, with the one closest to Willow listed first.
    • Doylestown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Rittman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Willow ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willow.

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

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

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

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 in 1895, Willow had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Independence
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Parma
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Parma is located in Cuyahoga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parma
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 77,558 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parma <1>
  • Cleveland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Bedford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Brooklyn
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Brecksville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Randall
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Randall is located in Cuyahoga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
  • Warrensville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Warrensville is located in Cuyahoga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrensville
  • North Linndale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • North Linndale is located in Cuyahoga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Linndale
  • Linndale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Linndale is located in Cuyahoga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linndale
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
  • Northfield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • North Royalton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Wheelock ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Wheelock is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelock
    • North Solon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • North Solon is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Solon
    • Orange
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Willow ...

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 591 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willow.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willow, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willow.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Willow:

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