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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 Atwater (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 Atwater. 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 doctors 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.

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

  • Macoupin County     (The home county of Atwater)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Standard City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Nilwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Girard
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Carlinville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Virden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Hornsby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • Comer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • East Gillespie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Eagarville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Gillespie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Lake Ka-ho
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Hettick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Sorento
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Reno
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Morrisonville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Zenobia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Palmer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Clarksdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Tovey
      (22 miles [35.4 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>
    • Bulpitt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeisyville
      (23 miles [37 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
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Langleyville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Sharpsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Taylorville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Edinburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Rockbridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Wrights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Jersey County
    • Fidelity
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Williamson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Livingston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • New Douglas
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Worden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Dorsey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Alhambra
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Waggoner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Shop Creek
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Honey Bend
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Raymond
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Farmersville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Harvel
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Litchfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Butler
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • White Oak
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Hillsboro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Schram City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Taylor Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Waverly
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Franklin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Atwater, with the one closest to Atwater listed first.
    • Thayer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Divernon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lowder
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Auburn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Commanche Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
    • Pawnee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Glenarm
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Chatham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Loami
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • New City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • New City is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
    • Woodside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Woodside is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside

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

Cemeteries Near Atwater ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Atwater.

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

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

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

  • Bethel Ridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Yowell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Providence Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Sulphur Spring Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Gray Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Rural Methodist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Thornton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Crawford Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • McCoupin Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Prairie Lawn Memorial Garden
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (360 more) ...
    • Raymond City Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Zion Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • New Calvary Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Atwater had a population of 150 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Zanesville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Zanesville is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zanesville
  • McVey
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • McVey is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVey
  • Barnett
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Barnett is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
  • Waggoner
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Shop Creek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
  • Nilwood
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Anderson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Anderson is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
  • Honey Bend
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
  • Girard
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Raymond
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Farmersville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Carlinville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (21 more) ...
    • Harvel
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Virden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Hornsby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby

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

Newspapers Published in Atwater ...

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 152 newspapers that have been published in the area around Atwater.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Atwater, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Atwater.

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 helpful 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 Atwater:

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