RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Wisconsin >> Kenosha County >> Brighton >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Brighton (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 Brighton. 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 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.

Brighton is located in Kenosha County.

To see how the shape of Wisconsin's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Kenosha County: Lake (IL), McHenry (IL), Racine & Walworth.

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

  • Kenosha County     (The home county of Brighton)
  • Jefferson County
    • Palmyra
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Palmyra is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,746 people
  • Milwaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Union Church
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Franklin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Franklin is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,925 people
    • Saint Martins
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Greendale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Greendale is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,127 people
    • Hales Corners
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Hales Corners is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Corners
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,553 people
    • Oak Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • South Milwaukee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Cudahy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Cudahy is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cudahy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,077 people
    • West Allis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • West Milwaukee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • West Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milwaukee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,090 people
    • Saint Francis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Milwaukee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Racine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Eagle Lake
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Eagle Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
    • Union Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Union Grove is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,266 people
    • Browns Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Browns Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Lake
    • Yorkville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Yorkville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Bohners Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Bohners Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bohners Lake
    • Burlington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Burlington is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,898 people
    • Rochester
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Waterford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Waterford is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,618 people
    • Sturtevant
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Franksville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Franksville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franksville
    • Mount Pleasant
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,048 people
    • Raymond
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Honey Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Walworth County
  • Waukesha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Durham
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Big Bend
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Big Bend is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,487 people
    • Muskego
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Muskego is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muskego
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,317 people
    • Tess Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Vernon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Vernon is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
    • Mukwonago
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Mukwonago is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mukwonago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,107 people
    • Prospect
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Eagleville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • New Berlin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Eagle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Calhoun
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Calhoun is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
    • Genesee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Genesee is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genesee
    • North Prairie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • North Prairie is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Prairie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,236 people
  • Lake County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Antioch
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Antioch is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,174 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Antioch <1>
    • Channel Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Channel Lake is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Channel Lake
    • Lake Catherine
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Lake Catherine is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Catherine
    • Fossland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Russell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Fox Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Lake Villa
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Lindenhurst
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Lindenhurst is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindenhurst
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,117 people
      • Lindenhurst has also been known as:
      • Lindenhurst village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lindenhurst <1>
    • Millburn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Old Mill Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fox Lake Hills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Fox Lake Hills is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Lake Hills
    • Monaville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Venetian Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Venetian Village is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venetian Village
  • McHenry County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Spring Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Richmond
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Solon Mills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Pistakee Highlands
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Pistakee Highlands is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pistakee Highlands
    • Sunnyside
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Sunnyside is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
    • Johnsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Ringwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hebron
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hebron is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,175 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hebron <1>
    • McCullom Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • McCullom Lake is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCullom Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 996 people
    • Lakemoor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Lakemoor is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakemoor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,912 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lakemoor <1>
    • Wonder Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Wonder Lake is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wonder Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,837 people
      • Wonder Lake has also been known as:
      • Wonder Lake village
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wonder Lake <1>
    • Greenwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenwood is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • McHenry
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • McHenry is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McHenry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,100 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for McHenry <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Brighton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brighton.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton 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 Brighton had a population of 115 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 1990, Brighton had a population of 1,264 people.

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

  • Kansasville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Kansasville is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansasville
  • Paris
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Union Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Grove is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,266 people
  • Salem Lakes
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Fox River
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Bristol
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • New Munster
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • New Munster is located in Kenosha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Munster
  • Camp Lake
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
  • Woodworth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Sylvania
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Sylvania is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvania
  • Yorkville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Yorkville is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
  • Burlington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Burlington is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,898 people
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Bassett
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bassett is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassett
    • Ives Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ives Grove is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ives Grove
    • North Cape
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • North Cape is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cape

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

Newspapers Published in Brighton ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brighton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brighton, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brighton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Brighton:

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 Brighton, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Brighton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.