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 Bethany (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 Bethany. 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 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.
Bethany is located in Moultrie 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 Moultrie County: Coles, Douglas, Macon, Piatt & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Bethany. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethany:
- Moultrie County (The home county of Bethany)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Dunn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Dalton City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Cushman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Lake City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Lovington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sullivan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cadwell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Allenville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Coles
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Gays
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Ivesdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sadorus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Assumption
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sandersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sandersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Stonington
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Millersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Millersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Pana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Owaneco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Velma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Velma is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
- Rosamond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Auburn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Grove City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Grove City is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
- Taylorville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Cooks Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Dorans
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Humboldt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mattoon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Trilla
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lerna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland County
- Neoga
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Arthur
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Chesterville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Garrett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Arcola
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Chicken Bristle
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Ficklin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Tuscola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Filson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Hayes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Kemp
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Patterson Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Fayette County
- Holliday
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Holliday is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Hervey City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Casner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Long Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Mount Zion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Turpin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Macon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Elwin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Boody
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Mound
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Oreana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Harristown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- La Place
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lintner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Burrowsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Hammond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cerro Gordo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Voorhies
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Milmine
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Atwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Bement
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cisco
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Monticello
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sangamon County
- Illiopolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Findlay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Yantisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Moweaqua
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Middlesworth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Shelbyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Windsor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Strasburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sexson Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Tower Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Trowbridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
- Fancher
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Fancher is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
- Mode
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mode is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethany, see our County-by-County Page for Bethany.
Cemeteries Near Bethany ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethany.
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 Bethany - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethany covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Bethany Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Walker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mitchell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Thomason Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Moultrie County Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Souther Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Isadora Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- New Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Todds Point Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Welborn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (318 more) ...
- Pea Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Prairie Home Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Henderson 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bethany had a population of 688 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bethany had a population of 1,210 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Dunn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Todds Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Todds Point is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todds Point
- Dalton City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Cushman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Prairie Hall
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Prairie Hall is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Hall
- Sullivan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lovington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ullrich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ullrich is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ullrich
- Lake City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Findlay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hervey City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Obed
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Obed is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obed
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Yantisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Casner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Williamsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamsburg is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethany. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethany.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bethany ...
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 210 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethany.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bethany. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bethany and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bethany.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3> of Bethany.
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 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 Bethany:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Moultrie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Christian County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- Douglas County
- Fayette County
- Macon County
- Piatt County
- Sangamon County
- Shelby 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 Bethany, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Bethany) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |