RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Sangamon County >> Berlin >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Berlin (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 Berlin. 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.

Berlin is located in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.

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

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Berlin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • New Berlin
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Pasfield
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Pasfield is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasfield
    • Loami
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Curran
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Curran is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Pleasant Plains
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Salisbury
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Jerome
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Jerome is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,575 people
    • Leland Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Leland Grove is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
    • Woodside
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Woodside is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
    • Chatham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hawthorne Place
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
    • Southern View
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Southern View is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southern View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,557 people
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • Ashland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Old Princeton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
    • Philadelphia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Newmansville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Burlingame
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Virginia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chandlerville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Jules
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Arenzville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Bluff Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hagener
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hagener is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • Zenobia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Tovey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Edinburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Kincaid
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bolivia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Jeisyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Sharpsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • Elkhart
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Middletown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cornland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • Modesto
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Virden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Girard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Palmyra
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Scottville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Nilwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Hettick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Standard City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • White City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Kilbourne
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Snicarte
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Snicarte is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • Tallula
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Athens
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Petersburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Greenview
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Oakford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Croft
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • White Oak
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Farmersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Waggoner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • Alexander
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Prentice
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Waverly
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Franklin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Pisgah
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Arnold
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Jacksonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Literberry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • South Jacksonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Woodson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Arcadia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Murrayville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lynnville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Lynnville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Berlin, with the one closest to Berlin listed first.
    • Manchester
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Winchester
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Berlin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Berlin.

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

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

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

  • Berlin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Wilcox Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Island Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Foutch Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Hodgerson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Staley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Little Hope Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Smyrna Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (381 more) ...
    • Luken Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sulphur Springs Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • McGinnis Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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 Berlin had a population of 260 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Berlin had a population of 173 people.

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

  • New Berlin
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Bates
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bates is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bates
  • Pasfield
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Pasfield is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasfield
  • Loami
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Farmingdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Farmingdale is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmingdale
  • Richland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Richland is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
  • Alexander
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Maxwell ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
  • Curran
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Curran is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
  • Pleasant Plains
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Orleans
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Orleans is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
  • Bradfordton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bradfordton is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordton
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Ashland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Salisbury
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Prentice
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice

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

Newspapers Published in Berlin ...

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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Berlin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Berlin, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Berlin.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Berlin:

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 Berlin, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Berlin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.