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 Benton Park (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 Benton Park. 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 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.
Benton Park is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Saline & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Benton Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Benton Park:
- Franklin County (The home county of Benton Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Whittington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Ewing
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Benton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- West City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Steel City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Rend City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Taylor Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Buckner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Valier
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sesser
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Frisco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Hanaford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Macedonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Flint
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Dahlgren
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lovilla
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Diamond City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Piopolis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Walpole
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Belle Prairie City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Dale
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Broughton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Dowell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Elkville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hallidayboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- De Soto
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Vergennes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carbondale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oraville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Murphysboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Ina
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Nason
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Emerson City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Bonnie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dareville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Waltonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Scheller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Marcoe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Belle Rive
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Opdyke
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vernon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Kell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Walnut Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Du Quoin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Sunfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Pinckneyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pyatts
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Conant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Cornerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Raleigh
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Carrier Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carrier Mills is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrier Mills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,527 people
- Former names for Carrier Mills:
- Carriers Mills
- Morrilsville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carrier Mills <1>
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Muddy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eldorado
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Harrisburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ledford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ledford is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledford
- Saline City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saline City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Du Bois
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Radom
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Posen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Richview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Irvington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Keenes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sims
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Freeman Spur
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Stiritz
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Johnston City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Herrin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Whiteash
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Corinth
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Pittsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bush
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Colp
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Hurst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Blairsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Benton Park, see our County-by-County Page for Benton Park.
Cemeteries Near Benton Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benton Park.
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 Benton Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Benton Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Franklin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Winemiller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Cypher Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Wayman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Moser Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Browning Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Drummond Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- King Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Browning Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Miller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (460 more) ...
- Overturf Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Grammer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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>
While we didn't find Benton Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Benton Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Benton Park, with the one closest to Benton Park listed first.
- Benton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ewing
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Buckner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Taylor Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Spring Garden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Smothersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Christopher
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Parrish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Akin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Frankfort
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Macedonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Mulkeytown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Plumfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Plumfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumfield
- Thompsonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Benton Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around Benton Park.
Newspapers Published in Benton Park ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Benton Park.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Benton Park, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Benton Park.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Benton Park:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hamilton County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Saline County
- Washington County
- Wayne 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> | 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 Benton Park, 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' (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- Benton Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |