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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 Alhambra (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 Alhambra. 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.

Alhambra is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Bond, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Saint Clair, Saint Charles (MO), Saint Louis City (MO) & Saint Louis (MO).

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

  • Madison County     (The home county of Alhambra)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Livingston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Grantfork
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Grantfork is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Hamel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • New Douglas
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Worden
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Williamson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Marine
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Fruit
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Fruit is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruit
    • Highland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Saint Jacob
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Edwardsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Old Ripley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Pierron
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Pocahontas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Sorento
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Reno
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Greenville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Smithboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Mulberry Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Saint Rose
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
    • Aviston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Trenton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Breese
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Marydale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Albers
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • New Baden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Beckemeyer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Germantown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Keyesport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Damiansville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Damiansville is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damiansville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
    • Carlyle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fayette County
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Fidelity
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Delhi
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Staunton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Mount Olive
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • White City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • White City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
    • Sawyerville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Benld
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Benld is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benld
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benld <1>
    • Lake Ka-ho
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Lake Ka-ho is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ka-ho
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
      • Lake Ka-ho has also been known as:
      • Lake Ka-Ho village
    • Wilsonville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Eagarville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Mount Clare
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Mount Clare is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clare
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
    • Bunker Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dorchester
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
    • East Gillespie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Panama
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Walshville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Donnellson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Litchfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Taylor Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Coffeen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Butler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillsboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Schram City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Honey Bend
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Shop Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Chapman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Lebanon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Lebanon is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,225 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lebanon <1>
    • Summerfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • O'Fallon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Petersburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Petersburg is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
    • Caseyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Shiloh
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Shiloh is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,653 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Shiloh <1>
    • Bunkum
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bunkum is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunkum
    • Fairview Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairmont City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairmont City is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmont City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,439 people
    • Washington Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Washington Park is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,831 people
    • French Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • French Village is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Village
    • Swansea
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Swansea is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansea
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,276 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Swansea <1>
  • Saint Charles County (MO)
    • West Alton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • West Alton is located in Saint Charles County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 529 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Alton <1>
  • Saint Louis City (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Baden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Baden is located in Saint Louis City (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baden
    • Saint Louis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Louis County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alhambra, with the one closest to Alhambra listed first.
    • Glasgow Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Glasgow Village is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow Village
    • Spanish Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Spanish Lake is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spanish Lake
    • Riverview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Riverview is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,821 people
    • Bellefontaine Neighbors
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bellefontaine Neighbors is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefontaine Neighbors
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,297 people
    • Castle Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Castle Point is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Point
    • Moline Acres
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Moline Acres is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,339 people
    • Black Jack
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Black Jack is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,921 people
    • Flordell Hills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Flordell Hills is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flordell Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 800 people
    • Jennings
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jennings is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,644 people
    • Dellwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Dellwood is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,994 people

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

Cemeteries Near Alhambra ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alhambra.

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

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

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

  • Harris Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • St. Vincent Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hoxsey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Wood Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Olive Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Seybert Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Crandall Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mundis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Gertrude Catholic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Grantfork UCC Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (446 more) ...

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, Alhambra had a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Alhambra had a population of 648 people.

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

  • Kaufman
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kaufman is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaufman
  • Grantfork
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Grantfork is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
  • New Douglas
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Worden
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Fruit
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fruit is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruit
  • Marine
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Old Ripley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
  • Carpenter
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Carpenter is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
  • Staunton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Highland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Pierron
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Jacob
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Pocahontas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Sorento
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Prairietown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown

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

Newspapers Published in Alhambra ...

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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alhambra.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alhambra, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alhambra.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Alhambra:

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 Alhambra, 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- Alhambra) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.