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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 Kenosha (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 Kenosha. 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 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.

Kenosha is located in Kenosha County and is the County Seat.

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 Kenosha. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kenosha:

  • Kenosha County     (The home county of Kenosha)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha listed first.
    • Somers
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Somers is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
    • Pleasant Prairie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
    • Fossland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodworth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bristol
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Paris
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Benet Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Shangrila
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Paddock Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
    • Salem Lakes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Brighton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Camp Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
  • Milwaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha listed first.
    • Oak Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Union Church
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • South Milwaukee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Franklin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Franklin is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35,925 people
    • Cudahy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Cudahy is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cudahy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,077 people
    • Saint Martins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Greendale
      (25 miles [40.2 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
    • Saint Francis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Hales Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hales Corners is located in Milwaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Corners
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,553 people
    • Greenfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • West Milwaukee
      (30 miles [48.3 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
  • Racine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha listed first.
    • Elmwood Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Sturtevant
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Pleasant
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,048 people
    • Racine
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Franksville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Franksville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franksville
    • North Bay
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • North Bay is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
    • Wind Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Wind Point is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wind Point
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,685 people
    • Union Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Union Grove is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,266 people
    • Yorkville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Yorkville is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Caledonia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Eagle Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Eagle Lake is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
    • Raymond
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Walworth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha listed first.
    • Voree ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Genoa City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Genoa City is located in Walworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,981 people
    • Lyons
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Pell Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Pell Lake is located in Walworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pell Lake
    • Lake Beulah
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Spring Prairie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Springfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Springfield is located in Walworth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
  • Waukesha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha listed first.
    • Durham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskego
      (25 miles [40.2 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
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Big Bend
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Big Bend is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,487 people
    • Prospect
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • New Berlin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Vernon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Vernon is located in Waukesha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
  • Lake County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha listed first.
    • Winthrop Harbor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Russell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Zion
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Fossland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Beach Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Wadsworth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Old Mill Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Antioch
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Millburn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Gurnee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Grandwood Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Grandwood Park is located in Lake County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandwood Park
    • Lindenhurst
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
  • McHenry County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha listed first.
    • Pistakee Highlands
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Pistakee Highlands is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pistakee Highlands
    • Spring Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunnyside
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Sunnyside is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
    • Johnsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakemoor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Solon Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Richmond
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Ringwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Holiday Hills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Holiday Hills is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 574 people
    • Island Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Island Lake is located in McHenry County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,951 people
    • McCullom Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 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
    • McHenry
      (29 miles [46.7 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 Kenosha, see our County-by-County Page for Kenosha.

Cemeteries Near Kenosha ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kenosha.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kenosha, with the one closest to Kenosha 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 Kenosha had a population of 6,532 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Kenosha had a population of 99,570 people.

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

  • Truesdell
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Truesdell is located in Kenosha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truesdell
  • Pleasant Prairie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
  • Somers
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Somers is located in Kenosha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
  • Russell
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Woodworth
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Racine
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Rosecrans
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rosecrans is located in Lake County (IL)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosecrans
  • Sylvania
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sylvania is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvania
  • Wadsworth
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Bristol
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Franksville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Franksville is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franksville
  • Ives Grove
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Ives Grove is located in Racine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ives Grove
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Paris
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Union Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Union Grove is located in Racine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,266 people
    • Antioch
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Kenosha ...

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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kenosha.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Kenosha. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Kenosha and those printed in the larger area surrounding Kenosha.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<2> of Kenosha.

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 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 Kenosha:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Kenosha) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Kenosha, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.