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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 Blue Point (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 Blue Point. 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.

Name Variations for Blue Point ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Blue Point: Blue Pt.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Blue Point. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Blue Point.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northeast 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 north.

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 north 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.

Blue Point is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Clay, Edwards, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Richland & White.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Blue Point)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Rinard
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Johnsonville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cisne
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Enterprise
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Geff
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jeffersonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Boyleston
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Sims
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Mount Erie
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Fairfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Wayne City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Keenes
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Barnhill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Flora
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Kenner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Xenia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Travis
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Sailor Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ingraham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Iola
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Bennington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Marion
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Maple Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Ellery
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Albion
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • West Salem
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • West Salem is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
    • Bone Gap
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Red Top
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Red Top is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
    • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
    • Browns
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Edgewood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Mason
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Farina
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • La Clede
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Saint Peter
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Belle Prairie City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Bungay
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Piopolis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Dahlgren
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Lovilla
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Bogota
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bogota is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
    • West Liberty
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Shields
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Markham City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Bluford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Texico
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Belle Rive
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Idlewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Opdyke
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Summersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Dix
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Mount Vernon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Iuka
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Omega
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Bannister
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Cartter
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Kell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Alma
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kinmundy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Salem
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Odin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Walnut Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Noble
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gallagher
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Passport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Parkersburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Wakefield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
    • Calhoun
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Olney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Olney is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <1>
    • Dundas
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Berryville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Claremont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blue Point, with the one closest to Blue Point listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Springerton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Blue Point ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blue Point.

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 Blue Point - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Johnsonville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Cates Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Stine Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Cisne Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Smyer Old Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Willow Branch Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hale Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Madden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Pruitt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (458 more) ...
    • Cariens Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Russell Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cambell Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

While we didn't find Blue Point in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blue Point.

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

  • Johnsonville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Rinard
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Cisne
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Enterprise
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Geff
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Jeffersonville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
  • Kenner
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kenner is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
  • Flora
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Orchardville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Xenia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Sims
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Boyleston
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Clay City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Erie
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Blue Point ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blue Point.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blue Point, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blue Point.

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 Blue Point:

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 Blue Point, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Blue Point) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.