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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 Chesterfield (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 Chesterfield. 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 and 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.

Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Chesterfield:

  • Macoupin County     (The home county of Chesterfield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Hagaman
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Challacombe
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Comer
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Summerville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Summerville is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Medora
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hettick
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Plainview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Shipman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Carlinville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Piasa
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Royal Lakes
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
    • Palmyra
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Kampsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Michael
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Cliffdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
    • Hardin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Rockbridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Greenfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Wrights
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Kane
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Carrollton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Belltown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • White Hall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Roodhouse
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Woody
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
    • Walkerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Walkerville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
    • Eldred
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Fidelity
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Jerseyville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Delhi
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • McClusky
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • McClusky is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
    • Dow
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Otterville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Otterville is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Elsah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Fieldon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Chautauqua
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Chautauqua is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
    • Spankey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Spankey is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spankey
    • Grafton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Nutwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Nutwood is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Dorsey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Belmont Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Belmont Village is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont Village
    • Godfrey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Bethalto
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Moro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Altamont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Cottage Hills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Cottage Hills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Hills
    • Williamson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Melville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Melville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
    • Alton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Alton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,049 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alton <1>
    • Livingston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Litchfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Shop Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Honey Bend
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Waggoner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Farmersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Raymond
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Walshville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Butler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Harvel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Waverly
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Murrayville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Franklin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Woodson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Pisgah
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Lowder
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Thayer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Auburn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Divernon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • Manchester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Alsey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Glasgow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
  • Saint Charles County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Chesterfield, with the one closest to Chesterfield listed first.
    • West Alton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • West Alton is located in Saint Charles County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 529 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Alton <1>
    • Portage Des Sioux
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Chesterfield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chesterfield.

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 Chesterfield - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Smith - Kirby Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Peebles Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Gelder Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Lumpkin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Keller Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Sell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Shiloh Baptist Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Reader Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Crossland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Catherine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Chism Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Upton Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (418 more) ...
    • Roads Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bethel Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Brayford Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Chesterfield had a population of 374 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Chesterfield had a population of 175 people.

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

  • Challacombe
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
  • Reader
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Reader is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reader
  • Hagaman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
  • Enos
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Enos is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enos
  • Kemper
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Kemper is located in Jersey County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemper
  • Comer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Comer is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
  • Medora
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Macoupin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Macoupin is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macoupin
  • Fayette
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fayette is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
  • Plainview
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hettick
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Rockbridge
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Fidelity
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Shipman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Greenfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Chesterfield ...

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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chesterfield.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chesterfield, 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 Chesterfield.

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 Chesterfield:

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