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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 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.

Centerville is located in Morgan 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 Morgan County: Brown, Cass, Greene, Macoupin, Pike, Sangamon & Scott.

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:

  • Morgan County     (The home county of Centerville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Franklin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Waverly
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Pisgah
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Alexander
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Woodson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Murrayville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Arnold
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • South Jacksonville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Jacksonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lynnville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynnville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
    • Prentice
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Arcadia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Literberry
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Ashland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Old Princeton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
    • Philadelphia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Burlingame
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Virginia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Arenzville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Newmansville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Jules
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Zenobia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Tovey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wrights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Roodhouse
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • White Hall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockbridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Belltown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Patterson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Wilmington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Wilmington is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
    • Carrollton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Walkerville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Walkerville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
    • Hillview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Kane
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
  • Jersey County
    • Fidelity
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Modesto
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Scottville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Palmyra
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Hettick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Virden
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Girard
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Nilwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hagaman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Comer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Standard City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Chesterfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Carlinville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Challacombe
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
  • Menard County
    • Tallula
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Farmersville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Waggoner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • White Oak
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Shop Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Harvel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Raymond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Honey Bend
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
  • Pike County
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Lowder
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Loami
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • New Berlin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Thayer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Auburn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Berlin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Berlin is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
    • Curran
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Curran is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Pasfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Pasfield is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasfield
    • Divernon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Chatham
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Glenarm
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Commanche Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Manchester
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Alsey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Winchester
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Glasgow
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Exeter
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Exeter is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Bluffs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Oxville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Oxville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville

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.

  • New Hope Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Turner Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Seymour Bird Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Fanning Ollie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Bull Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Harts Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Sims Old Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Pulliam Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Rogers Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Sebastians Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Criswell George Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (436 more) ...
    • Robert Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Franklin Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Nifong Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.

  • Franklin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Rohrer
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Rohrer is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rohrer
  • Waverly
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Scottville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Modesto
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Palmyra
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Maxwell ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
  • Lowder
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Pisgah
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
  • Athensville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Athensville is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athensville
  • Orleans
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Orleans is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
  • Alexander
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Woodson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Murrayville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Arnold
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold

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 175 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 27 miles [43.5 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 first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Centerville:

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 obstructions 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'.