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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 Durham (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 Durham. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Durham is located in Waukesha 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 Waukesha County: Dodge, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth & Washington.

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

  • Waukesha County     (The home county of Durham)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
    • Muskego
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Muskego is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muskego
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,317 people
    • Tess Corners
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Prospect
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Big Bend
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Big Bend is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,487 people
    • New Berlin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Vernon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Vernon is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
    • Calhoun
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Calhoun is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
    • Elm Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Waukesha
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Brookfield is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39,164 people
    • Mukwonago
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Mukwonago is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mukwonago
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,107 people
    • Genesee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Genesee is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genesee
    • Butler
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Butler is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,795 people
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
    • Palmyra
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Palmyra is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,746 people
    • Sullivan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Sullivan is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 666 people
    • Lac La Belle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lac La Belle is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lac La Belle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
    • Lake Lac La Belle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Lac La Belle is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Lac La Belle
    • Rome
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Rome is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
    • Concord
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
  • Kenosha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
    • Brighton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Paris
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Somers
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Somers is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
    • Paddock Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
    • Bristol
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Salem Lakes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Woodworth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Fox River
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Slades Corners
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Camp Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
    • Kenosha
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Twin Lakes
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Powers Lake
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Powers Lake is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powers Lake
  • Milwaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
    • Union Church
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Saint Martins
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Franklin
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Franklin is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,925 people
    • Hales Corners
      (5 miles [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
    • Greendale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Greendale is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,127 people
    • Greenfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • West Allis
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • South Milwaukee
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Cudahy
      (11 miles [17.7 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 Milwaukee
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • West Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milwaukee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,090 people
    • Wauwatosa
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Saint Francis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Ozaukee County
  • Racine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
    • Kneeland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Raymond
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Wind Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Caledonia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Yorkville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Yorkville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Franksville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Franksville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franksville
    • Waterford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Waterford is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,618 people
    • Caldwell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Eagle Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Eagle Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
    • Rochester
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Union Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • 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
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Browns Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Lake
    • Honey Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Walworth County
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
    • Lake Five
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Germantown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Germantown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,057 people
    • Richfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Rockfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Rugby Junction
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Rugby Junction is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby Junction
    • Thompson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Lake County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham listed first.
    • Fossland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Antioch
      (27 miles [43.5 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Channel Lake is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Channel Lake
    • Lake Catherine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lake Catherine is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Catherine
    • Russell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Winthrop Harbor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fox Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Millburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Old Mill Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • McHenry County (IL)

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

Cemeteries Near Durham ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Durham.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Durham, with the one closest to Durham 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Durham had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Union Church
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Saint Martins
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Muskego
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskego is located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muskego
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,317 people
  • Tess Corners
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Kneeland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Raymond
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hales Corners
    (5 miles [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
  • North Cape
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • North Cape is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cape
  • Prospect
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Big Bend
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Big Bend is located in Waukesha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,487 people
  • New Berlin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Kilbournville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Kilbournville is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilbournville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Oakwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Oakwood is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Thompsonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Thompsonville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
    • Caledonia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Durham ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Durham.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Durham, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Durham.

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 Durham:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Durham) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Durham, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.