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 Baldwin Heights (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 Baldwin Heights. 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.
Name Variations for Baldwin Heights ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Baldwin Heights: Baldwin Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Baldwin Heights. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Baldwin Heights.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 and hospitals 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.
Baldwin Heights is primarily located in Washington County. A portion of Baldwin Heights extends into Jefferson 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 Baldwin Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Baldwin Heights:
- Washington County (The home county of Baldwin Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Irvington
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wamac
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wamac is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
- Richview
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hoyleton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ashley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Radom
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- New Minden
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Nashville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Posen
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Addieville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Okawville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bond County
- Pleasant Mound
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
- Clay County
- Xenia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Centralia
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hoffman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Posey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Posey is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
- Huey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Boulder
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Boulder is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
- Carlyle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Beckemeyer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bartelso
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Keyesport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Marydale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Marydale is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
- Germantown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Breese
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Saint Paul
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Shobonier
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Sesser
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Whittington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ewing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Rend City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Valier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Frisco
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Hamilton County
- Dahlgren
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Jefferson City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Roaches
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Woodlawn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dix
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Idlewood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
- Texico
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Marcoe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Mount Vernon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Waltonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Summersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Summersville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
- Scheller
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Dareville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Madison County
- Sebastopol
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sebastopol is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Walnut Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Central City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- 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
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Junction City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Sandoval
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Odin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cartter
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cartter is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
- Fairman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Fairman is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
- Salem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bannister
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Hickory Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Patoka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Tamaroa
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Winkle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Pinckneyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Du Quoin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Randolph County
- Coulterville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Keenes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wayne City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Baldwin Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Baldwin Heights.
Cemeteries Near Baldwin Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Baldwin Heights.
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 Baldwin Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Baldwin Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Irvington Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Fouts Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Grand Point Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gilead Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Piskey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gaston Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Garrison Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Harres Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gilmore Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jolliff Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Little Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (399 more) ...
- Whitchurch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Snyder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Baldwin Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Baldwin Heights.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Baldwin Heights, with the one closest to Baldwin Heights listed first.
- Irvington
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Richview
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Walnut Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Centralia
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Central City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Central City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
- Hoyleton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Boyd
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Boyd is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Ashley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hoffman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Roaches
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Shattuc
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Drivers
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Drivers is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drivers
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Dix
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sandoval
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Radom
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Baldwin Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Baldwin Heights.
Newspapers Published in Baldwin Heights ...
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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Baldwin Heights.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Baldwin Heights, 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 Baldwin Heights.
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 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 Baldwin Heights:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bond County
- Clay County
- Clinton County
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Jefferson County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Randolph County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Baldwin Heights, 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 from Point A (ie- Baldwin Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |