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 Centerville (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 Centerville. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Centerville is located in Macoupin 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 Macoupin County: Greene, Jersey, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan & Sangamon.
Below are the counties that are near Centerville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Centerville:
- Macoupin County (The home county of Centerville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Royal Lakes
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Royal Lakes is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Lakes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
- Royal Lakes has also been known as:
- Royal Lakes village
- Shipman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Dorchester
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Plainview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bunker Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Wilsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Miles Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Miles Station is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Station
- Piasa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gillespie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mount Clare
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Mount Clare is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clare
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Benld
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Brighton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Sorento
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Reno
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Reno is located in Bond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Old Ripley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Ripley is located in Bond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Pierron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pocahontas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Rockbridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greenfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kane
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Mid City ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mid City is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
- Wrights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Carrollton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woody
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Woody is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
- Belltown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Belltown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
- Jersey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Fidelity
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Delhi
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Delhi is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
- Jerseyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- McClusky
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- McClusky is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
- Dow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Elsah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Otterville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Otterville is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Chautauqua
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Chautauqua is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
- Grafton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Fieldon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Nutwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Nutwood is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Dorsey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Prairietown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Prairietown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
- Moro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bethalto
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Williamson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Worden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cottage Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cottage Hills is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Hills
- Livingston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rosewood Heights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rosewood Heights is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood Heights
- Belmont Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont Village
- East Alton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Alton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Alton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,922 people
- Godfrey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Litchfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Walshville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Honey Bend
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
- Shop Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
- Butler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Panama
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Taylor Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Waggoner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Raymond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Donnellson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hillsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Schram City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Schram City is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
- Saint Charles County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- West Alton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Portage Des Sioux
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Louis City (MO)
- Baden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Baden is located in Saint Louis City (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baden
- Saint Louis County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Black Jack
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Black Jack is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,921 people
- Spanish Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Spanish Lake is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spanish Lake
- Glasgow Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Glasgow Village is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow Village
- Bellefontaine Neighbors
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bellefontaine Neighbors is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefontaine Neighbors
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,297 people
- Castle Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Castle Point is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Point
- Riverview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Riverview is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,821 people
- Dellwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dellwood is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,994 people
- Florissant
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Florissant is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florissant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50,795 people
- Moline Acres
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Moline Acres is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,339 people
- Calverton Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Calverton Park is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calverton Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,267 people
- Ferguson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ferguson is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,457 people
- Berkeley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Berkeley is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkeley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,892 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Centerville, see our County-by-County Page for Centerville.
Cemeteries Near Centerville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Centerville.
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 Centerville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Centerville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Centerville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hillyard Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Luken Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Shipman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Denis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Woodburn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bunker Hill City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Combes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Morrison Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Waggoner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Clark Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Armour Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (439 more) ...
- Woods Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Miles Station Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Zimmerman 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>
While we didn't find Centerville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Centerville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
- Shipman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bunker Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dorchester
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Plainview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Miles Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Miles Station is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Station
- Macoupin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Macoupin is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macoupin
- Piasa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dorsey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gillespie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Brighton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Prairietown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Prairietown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
- Fosterburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fosterburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterburg
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Medora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fidelity
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Staunton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Centerville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Centerville.
Newspapers Published in Centerville ...
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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around Centerville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Centerville, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Centerville.
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 either 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 Centerville:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Macoupin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bond County
- Greene County
- Jersey County
- Madison County
- Montgomery County
- Saint Charles County
- Saint Louis City
- Saint Louis 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 Centerville, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Centerville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |