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 Blackstone (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 Blackstone. 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.
Blackstone is located in Livingston 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 Livingston County: Ford, Grundy, Kankakee, La Salle, McLean & Woodford.
Below are the counties that are near Blackstone. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blackstone:
- Livingston County (The home county of Blackstone)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Missal
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Missal is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
- Budd
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Budd is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
- Adams ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Cornell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Vermilion City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Vermilion City is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion City
- Sunbury
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Coalville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Ancona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Odell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cayuga
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cayuga is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Long Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Munster
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Munster is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munster
- Dwight
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Bureau County
- Spring Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Kempton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cabery
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Grundy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Kinsman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Highland Town ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Highland Town is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Town
- Verona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wauponsee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wauponsee is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauponsee
- Mazon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gardner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- East Brooklyn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- East Brooklyn is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brooklyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- South Wilmington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- South Wilmington is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Clarke City
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Clarke City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarke City
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Centerville is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Central City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Central City is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Claypool
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Claypool is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Gaslight Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gaslight Village is located in Grundy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaslight Village
- Kankakee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Reddick
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Buckingham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Essex
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Union Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Kendall County
- Lisbon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lisbon is located in Kendall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Kernan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Ransom
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Streator
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kangley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kangley is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kangley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Grand Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Marseilles
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Seneca
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Seneca is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,217 people
- Seneca has also been known as:
- Crotty
- Seneca village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seneca <1>
- Leonore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leeds
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Leeds is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Hitt
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hitt is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitt
- South Ottawa ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- South Ottawa is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ottawa
- Lostant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lostant is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lostant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
- Lostant has also been known as:
- Lost Ant
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lostant <1>
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Wenona
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Toluca
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Varna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- La Rose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Chenoa
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Weston
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Weston is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Meadows
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Meadows is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
- Gridley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lexington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Mount Palatine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Palatine is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Palatine
- Magnolia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Standard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- McNabb
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Granville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Will County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Godley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Godley is located in Will County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 771 people
- Braidwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Woodford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Minonk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Woodford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Woodford is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Panola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Benson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- El Paso
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blackstone, see our County-by-County Page for Blackstone.
Cemeteries Near Blackstone ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blackstone.
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 Blackstone - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blackstone covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Blackstone Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- New Michigan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sunbury Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Calder Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hadley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Funk Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Allen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Emery Green Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Phillips Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Barrickman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (224 more) ...
- St. Stephen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Campbell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cornell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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 Blackstone had a population of 153 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blackstone, with the one closest to Blackstone listed first.
- Missal
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Missal is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missal
- Budd
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Budd is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd
- Manville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Manville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
- Kernan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kernan is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernan
- Smithdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Smithdale is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithdale
- Adams ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Ransom
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cornell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nevada
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Nevada is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevada
- Otter ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Otter is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter
- Streator
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sunbury
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sunbury is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Coalville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Coalville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalville
- Reading
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Reading is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
- Ancona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blackstone. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blackstone.
Newspapers Published in Blackstone ...
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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blackstone.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blackstone, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blackstone.
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 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 Blackstone:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Livingston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Ford County
- Grundy County
- Kankakee County
- Kendall County
- La Salle County
- Marshall County
- McLean County
- Putnam County
- Will County
- Woodford 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 Blackstone, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Blackstone) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |