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 Sylvania (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 Sylvania. 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.
Sylvania is located in Racine 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 Racine County: Kenosha, Walworth & Waukesha.
Below are the counties that are near Sylvania. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sylvania:
- Racine County (The home county of Sylvania)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Mount Pleasant
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27,048 people
- Sturtevant
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sturtevant is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturtevant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,637 people
- Franksville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Franksville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franksville
- Yorkville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Yorkville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Union Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Union Grove is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,266 people
- Elmwood Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Elmwood Park is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Caledonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 25,235 people
- Raymond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Raymond is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Racine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Racine is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76,237 people
- Eagle Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Eagle Lake is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Lake
- Kneeland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kneeland is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kneeland
- North Bay
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Bay is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
- Kenosha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Somers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Somers is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
- Paris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paris is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Brighton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brighton is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Woodworth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Woodworth is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Kenosha
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kenosha is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenosha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99,570 people
- Bristol
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bristol is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,145 people
- Paddock Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paddock Lake is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paddock Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,232 people
- Pleasant Prairie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,373 people
- Salem Lakes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Salem Lakes is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Lakes
- Former names for Salem Lakes:
- Salem
- Silver Lake
- Fossland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Fossland is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Camp Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Camp Lake is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Lake
- Lake Shangrila
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Shangrila is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shangrila
- Milwaukee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Union Church
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Union Church is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Church
- Franklin
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Oak Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Oak Creek is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36,469 people
- Saint Martins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Saint Martins is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Martins
- South Milwaukee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- South Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Milwaukee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,673 people
- Greendale
(16 miles [25.7 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
- Cudahy
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Hales Corners
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Greenfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Greenfield is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 37,183 people
- Saint Francis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Saint Francis is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Francis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,725 people
- West Milwaukee
(21 miles [33.8 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
- West Allis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- West Allis is located in Milwaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Allis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 59,748 people
- Walworth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Voree ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Voree is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voree
- Lake Beulah
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Beulah is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Beulah
- Lyons
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lyons is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Potter Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Potter Lake is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Lake
- Pell Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pell Lake is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pell Lake
- Spring Prairie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Spring Prairie is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Prairie
- Genoa City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Genoa City is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,981 people
- East Troy
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- East Troy is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Troy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,307 people
- Springfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Springfield is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Bowers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bowers is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowers
- Lake Geneva
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lake Geneva is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Geneva
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,096 people
- Troy Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Troy Center is located in Walworth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy Center
- Waukesha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Durham
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Durham is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Muskego
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Big Bend
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Tess Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tess Corners is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tess Corners
- Prospect
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Prospect is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
- New Berlin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- New Berlin is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Berlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39,812 people
- Vernon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Mukwonago
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Calhoun
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Calhoun is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Elm Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Elm Grove is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,137 people
- Waukesha
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Waukesha is located in Waukesha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waukesha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72,376 people
- Brookfield
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Lake County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Fossland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Fossland is located in Lake County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fossland
- Russell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Russell is located in Lake County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Antioch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Winthrop Harbor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Channel Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Channel Lake is located in Lake County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Channel Lake
- Lake Catherine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Catherine is located in Lake County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Catherine
- Beach Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Old Mill Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wadsworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Zion
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Zion is located in Lake County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23,321 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zion <1>
- Lindenhurst
(19 miles [30.6 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Millburn is located in Lake County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millburn
- McHenry County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Spring Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Richmond
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Solon Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sunnyside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sunnyside is located in McHenry County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
- Johnsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lakemoor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ringwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Wonder Lake
(29 miles [46.7 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
(30 miles [48.3 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sylvania, see our County-by-County Page for Sylvania.
Cemeteries Near Sylvania ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sylvania.
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 Sylvania - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sylvania covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Sylvania Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Paris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- West Lawn Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Johns Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Paris Corners Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McPherson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jewish Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Graceland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sunset Ridge Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- St. Casimirs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (222 more) ...
- Mound Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Racine.
- The Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- Holy Cross Cemetery
- Kinzie Ave. Cemetery
- Old Holy Cross Cemetery
- St. Marys Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #88173 <2>
- Calvary Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Catholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Catholic Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Racine.
- The Calvary Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #87662 <2>
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, Sylvania had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sylvania, with the one closest to Sylvania listed first.
- Ives Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Ives Grove is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ives Grove
- Union Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Union Grove is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,266 people
- Somers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Somers is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
- Franksville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Franksville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franksville
- Yorkville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Yorkville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Thompsonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Thompsonville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Paris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paris is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Raymond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Raymond is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Caledonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 25,235 people
- Kilbournville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kilbournville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilbournville
- North Cape
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- North Cape is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cape
- Kansasville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kansasville is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansasville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Brighton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brighton is located in Kenosha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Racine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Racine is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
- Population from the 2020 Census: 76,237 people
- Husher
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Husher is located in Racine County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husher
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sylvania. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sylvania.
Newspapers Published in Sylvania ...
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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sylvania.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sylvania, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sylvania.
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 Sylvania:
- Websites specific to Wisconsin
- Pages specific to Racine County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kenosha County
- Milwaukee County
- Walworth County
- Waukesha County
- Lake County
- McHenry County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Wisconsin
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 Sylvania, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Sylvania) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |