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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 Alda (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 Alda. 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 and 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.

Alda is located in Washington County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Washington County: Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Perry, Randolph & Saint Clair.

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

  • Washington County     (The home county of Alda)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Hoyleton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Irvington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Baldwin Heights
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Wamac
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Richview
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • New Minden
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • New Minden is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Ashley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Nashville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Radom
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
    • Addieville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Posen
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Posen is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
    • Du Bois
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Du Bois is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
    • Okawville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Pleasant Mound
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Pierron
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pocahontas
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Smithboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Hoffman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Centralia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Posey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
    • Huey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Huey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
    • Carlyle
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Bartelso
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Beckemeyer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Boulder
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Marydale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Germantown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Breese
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Keyesport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Albers
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Shobonier
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Franklin County
    • Sesser
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Jefferson City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Roaches
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Roaches is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
    • Woodlawn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Dix
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Idlewood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Texico
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Marcoe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
    • Scheller
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Mount Vernon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Waltonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Summersville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Dareville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Dareville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
    • Emerson City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Sebastopol
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sebastopol is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Highland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Central City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Junction City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
    • Walnut Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Sandoval
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Odin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Fairman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Cartter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Kell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Salem
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Patoka
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Bannister
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Vernon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Alma
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Tamaroa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Winkle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Winkle is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
    • Pinckneyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Sunfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Sunfield is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
    • Saint Johns
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Saint Johns is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Coulterville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Tilden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alda, with the one closest to Alda listed first.
    • Saint Libory
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Summerfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Fayetteville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Fayetteville is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
    • Mascoutah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Alda ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alda.

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

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

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

  • Trinity Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Harres Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Grand Point Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Irvington Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Knolhoff Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Garrison Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • North Prairie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Gilmore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Petrea Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (387 more) ...
    • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Fouts Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)

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.<2>

While we didn't find Alda in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alda.

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

  • Hoyleton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Irvington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Hoffman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Richview
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • New Minden
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • New Minden is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
  • Centralia
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Posey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Posey is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
  • Central City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Central City is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
  • Ashley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Huey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Huey is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
  • Walnut Hill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Shattuc
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Nashville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Radom
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
    • Roaches
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Roaches is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches

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

Newspapers Published in Alda ...

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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alda.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alda, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alda.

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 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 Alda:

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