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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 Anderson (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 Anderson. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Anderson is located in Macoupin 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 Macoupin County: Greene, Jersey, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan & Sangamon.

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

  • Macoupin County     (The home county of Anderson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Standard City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Nilwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Carlinville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Girard
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Comer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Palmyra
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hettick
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Virden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Modesto
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hagaman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Hornsby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • Chesterfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Bond County
    • Sorento
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Zenobia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Morrisonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Palmer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Tovey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Clarksdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Bulpitt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeisyville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Kincaid
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Langleyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Rockbridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Wrights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Kane
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Roodhouse
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Belltown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Carrollton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • White Hall
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Fidelity
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Delhi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • Jerseyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Williamson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Dorsey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Livingston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • New Douglas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Worden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Moro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Waggoner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Shop Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Farmersville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Honey Bend
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Raymond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Litchfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • White Oak
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Butler
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillsboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Walshville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Taylor Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Waverly
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Franklin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pisgah
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Murrayville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Alexander
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Woodson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Arnold
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Anderson, with the one closest to Anderson listed first.
    • Lowder
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Thayer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Auburn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Divernon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Commanche Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Loami
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Glenarm
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Pawnee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Chatham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • New Berlin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Curran
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Curran is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
  • Scott County
    • Manchester
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Anderson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Anderson.

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

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

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

  • Anderson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Welton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Dugger Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Gray Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Rural Methodist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Yowell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Ross Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bacon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Carlinville City Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (364 more) ...
    • New Calvary Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Mayfield Memorial Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Denby Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)

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, Anderson had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Carlinville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Nilwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Atwater
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • McVey
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • McVey is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVey
  • Comer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Comer is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
  • Girard
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Enos
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Enos is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enos
  • Barnett
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Barnett is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
  • Reader
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Reader is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reader
  • Macoupin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Macoupin is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macoupin
  • Zanesville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Zanesville is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zanesville
  • Waggoner
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Palmyra
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hettick
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Shop Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek

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

Newspapers Published in Anderson ...

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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around Anderson.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Anderson, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Anderson.

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 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 Anderson:

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 Anderson, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Anderson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.