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 Bluffs (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 Bluffs. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Bluffs is located in Scott 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 Scott County: Greene, Morgan & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Bluffs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bluffs:
- Scott County (The home county of Bluffs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Exeter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Oxville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Naples
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Winchester
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glasgow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Glasgow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Alsey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Manchester
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Kellerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kellerville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
- Beverly
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Beverly is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Clayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Versailles
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbirds
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Cooperstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Hersman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Ripley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Mount Sterling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mound Station
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Cliffdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
- Belleview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Belleview is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Arenzville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hagener
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Beardstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Bluff Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jules
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Old Princeton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Princeton is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
- Virginia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burlingame
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Burlingame is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Philadelphia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Gurney ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gurney is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
- Ashland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Chandlerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Patterson
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wilmington
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wilmington is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Hillview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Roodhouse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- White Hall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Walkerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Walkerville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
- Belltown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Belltown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
- Wrights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Macoupin County
- Scottville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mason County
- Snicarte
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Meredosia
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Chapin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Concord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lynnville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
- Jacksonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- South Jacksonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
- Arcadia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Arcadia is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Murrayville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Woodson
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Literberry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Arnold
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Arnold is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Pisgah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pisgah is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Valley City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Chambersburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Florence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Florence is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Griggsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Detroit
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Detroit is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Perry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Milton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bedford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Time
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Time is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- New Salem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- New Salem is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Pittsfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Baylis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Pearl
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Frederick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rushville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Browning
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bader
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bader is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
- Camden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bluffs, see our County-by-County Page for Bluffs.
Cemeteries Near Bluffs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bluffs.
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 Bluffs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bluffs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Green Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Batley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- McCaleb Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Sears Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Neelyville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Morrison Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Salem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Oxville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Borum Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (568 more) ...
- Etheal Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Augustine Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Naples Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
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 Bluffs had a population of 421 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bluffs had a population of 658 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bluffs, with the one closest to Bluffs listed first.
- Exeter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Oxville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Naples
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Meredosia
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Valley City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Merritt
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Merritt is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritt
- Bethel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bethel is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Riggston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Riggston is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggston
- Chapin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Chambersburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Florence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Florence is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Concord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Griggsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lynnville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bluffs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bluffs.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bluffs ...
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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bluffs.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bluffs. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bluffs and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bluffs.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Bluffs.
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 Bluffs:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Scott County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Brown County
- Calhoun County
- Cass County
- Greene County
- Macoupin County
- Mason County
- Morgan County
- Pike County
- Schuyler 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> | 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 Bluffs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Bluffs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |