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 Belle Rive (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 Belle Rive. 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.
Belle Rive is located in 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 Jefferson County: Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Perry, Washington & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Belle Rive. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belle Rive:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Belle Rive)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Opdyke
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bluford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Markham City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Markham City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
- Marlow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Summersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Summersville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
- Bonnie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mount Vernon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ina
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Pigeon ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Marcoe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Nason
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dareville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Xenia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Kenner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Kenner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
- Clinton County
- Centralia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Frisco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Taylor Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Ewing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Whittington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Akin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Steel City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Benton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hanaford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Smothersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Rend City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Sesser
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- West City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Dahlgren
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lovilla
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Belle Prairie City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Piopolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Macedonia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Flint
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Diamond City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Bungay
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bungay is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
- Dale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Hickory Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Union Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Union Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
- Kell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cartter
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cartter is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
- Walnut Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Iuka
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bannister
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Salem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Central City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Central City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Tamaroa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sunfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Du Quoin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Cornerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Raleigh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Texas City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Texas City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Radom
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Richview
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Du Bois
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Baldwin Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Irvington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wamac
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wamac is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Keenes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sims
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Boyleston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- Barnhill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fairfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Johnsonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Geff
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Jeffersonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
- Cisne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rinard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Enterprise
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Enterprise is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Mill Shoals
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Springerton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Enfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Burnt Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Norris City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stokes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Corinth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Hartford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Stiritz
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Freeman Spur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Johnston City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belle Rive, see our County-by-County Page for Belle Rive.
Cemeteries Near Belle Rive ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belle Rive.
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 Belle Rive - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belle Rive covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- New Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Flint Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Wall Farm Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Shelton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Laird Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Opdyke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rentchler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shelton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Richardson Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (454 more) ...
- Grothoff Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Four Graves
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lowry Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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 Belle Rive had a population of 392 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Belle Rive had a population of 347 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belle Rive, with the one closest to Belle Rive listed first.
- Dahlgren
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Opdyke
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Marlow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Bluford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Spring Garden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Garden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Taylor Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Delafield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Delafield is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delafield
- Keenes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Piopolis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Mayberry
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mayberry is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayberry
- Mount Vernon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ewing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Wayne City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pigeon ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Macedonia
(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 Belle Rive. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belle Rive.
Newspapers Published in Belle Rive ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belle Rive.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belle Rive, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belle Rive.
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 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 Belle Rive:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Clinton County
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Saline County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson 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 Belle Rive, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Belle Rive) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |