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 Cobden (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 Cobden. 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 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.
Cobden is located in Union 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 Union County: Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Pulaski, Williamson, Cape Girardeau (MO) & Perry (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Cobden. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cobden:
- Union County (The home county of Cobden)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Water Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Water Valley is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Alto Pass
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Anna
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jonesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Dutch Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dutch Mills is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Mills
- Lick Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lick Creek is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Wolf Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Pleasant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Dongola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mill Creek is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Reynoldsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Reynoldsville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
- Alexander County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Elco
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- McClure
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Tamms
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- East Cape Girardeau
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Cape Girardeau is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cape Girardeau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Diswood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Diswood is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diswood
- Thebes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Thebes is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thebes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Olive Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hodges Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hodges Park is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodges Park
- Unity
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cache
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Miller City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Frog City ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Frog City is located in Alexander County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog City
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Royalton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Zeigler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cambon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cambon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambon
- Plumfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Plumfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumfield
- Orient
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Frankfort
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Frankfort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,733 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Makanda
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pomona
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Carbondale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Grand Tower
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Murphysboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Gorham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- De Soto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jacob
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oraville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hallidayboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Vergennes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Elkville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Buncombe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Goreville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Deer Ridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
- Cypress
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Eagle Point Bay
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Eagle Point Bay is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point Bay
- Egyptian Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
- Vienna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Belknap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bender ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bender is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bender
- New Burnside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ozark
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Reynoldsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Reynoldsburg is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsburg
- Massac County
- New Columbia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Columbia is located in Massac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Columbia
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Ullin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Perks
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Pulaski
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Karnak
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Chain
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Grand Chain
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Grand Chain is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Grand Chain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Olmsted
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Villa Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Villa Ridge is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Ridge
- Mounds
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mounds is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mounds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 666 people
- Saline County
- Stonefort
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Lake Crest
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lake Crest is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Crest
- Cambria
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Carterville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Crainville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Crainville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crainville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,419 people
- Dewmaine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dewmaine is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewmaine
- Blairsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Energy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hurst
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Colp
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Bush
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Herrin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Marion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Leemon
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Leemon is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemon
- Pocahontas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shawneetown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shawneetown is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawneetown
- Cape Girardeau
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jackson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jackson is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,699 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
- Old Appleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Old Appleton is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Appleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Oak Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gordonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dutchtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dutchtown is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchtown
- Estimated population in 2018: 94 people
- Daisy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Daisy is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Millersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Altenburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Frohna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Frohna is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frohna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Brazeau
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Brazeau is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazeau
- Uniontown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Uniontown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Farrar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Eureka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Longtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Longtown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Scott County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Scott City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Commerce
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Kelso
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cobden, see our County-by-County Page for Cobden.
Cemeteries Near Cobden ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cobden.
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 Cobden - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cobden covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rich Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mt. Tabor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Kelley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Vancil Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Kimmel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Karaker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lockard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Walker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Anna City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Trinity Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (485 more) ...
- Saratoga Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sheppard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Zimmerman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
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 Cobden had a population of 994 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Cobden had a population of 1,053 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cobden, with the one closest to Cobden listed first.
- Mountain Glen
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mountain Glen is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Glen
- Alto Pass
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jonesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Anna
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Makanda
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pomona
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Balcom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Balcom is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balcom
- Ware
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ware is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Lick Creek
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lick Creek is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Boskydell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Boskydell is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boskydell
- Springville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Springville is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Mount Pleasant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Aldridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Aldridge is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldridge
- Dongola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elvira
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Elvira is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cobden. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cobden.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Cobden ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cobden.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Cobden. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Cobden and those printed in the larger area surrounding Cobden.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<4> of Cobden.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Cobden:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Union County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alexander County
- Franklin County
- Jackson County
- Johnson County
- Massac County
- Pulaski County
- Saline County
- Williamson County
- Cape Girardeau County
- Perry County
- Scott 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 Cobden, 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' (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- Cobden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |