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 Cottonwood (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 Cottonwood. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Cottonwood is located in Gallatin 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 Gallatin County: Hamilton, Hardin, Saline, White, Posey (IN) & Union (KY).
Below are the counties that are near Cottonwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cottonwood:
- Gallatin County (The home county of Cottonwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Inman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Inman is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman
- New Haven
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Omaha
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ridgway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elba
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elba is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lawler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lawler is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
- Shawneetown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Equality
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Old Shawneetown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Old Shawneetown is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Shawneetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Bowlesville ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bowlesville is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlesville
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Akin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Thompsonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Broughton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walpole
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Bungay
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bungay is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- McLeansboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Diamond City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- Flint
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Piopolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Belle Prairie City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Macedonia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Lovilla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Karbers Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Saline Landing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Saline Landing is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline Landing
- Rock Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Rock Creek is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Lamb
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lamb is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamb
- Cave-In-Rock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cave-In-Rock is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave-In-Rock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
- Cave-In-Rock has also been known as:
- Cave-In-Rock village
- Elizabethtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Herod
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oak
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oak is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
- Hartsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hartsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
- Leisure City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leisure City is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure City
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Texas City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Texas City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City
- Saline City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Saline City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Eldorado
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Red Bud ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Red Bud is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bud
- Cottage Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cottage Grove is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Wasson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wasson is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
- Raleigh
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Muddy
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Long Branch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Gaskins City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gaskins City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins City
- Harrisburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Wayne County
- Barnhill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Roland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roland is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Herald
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Emma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Norris City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Stokes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Maunie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Carmi
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Enfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Crossville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Phillipstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Phillipstown is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
- Springerton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Calvin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Calvin is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Williamson County
- Hartford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Posey County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Hovey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hovey is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hovey
- Savah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Savah is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savah
- Mount Vernon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Solitude
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Solitude is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solitude
- Bufkin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bufkin is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bufkin
- Springfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Springfield is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- New Harmony
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Caborn
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Caborn is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caborn
- Oliver
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Oliver is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
- Hepburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hepburn is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
- Blairsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Blairsville is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Griffin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Griffin is located in Posey County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Henderson County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Smith Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Smith Mills is located in Henderson County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Mills
- Corydon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Union County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Raleigh
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Raleigh is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
- Uniontown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Uniontown is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Chapman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chapman is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Morganfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dekoven
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Dekoven is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dekoven
- Breckinridge Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Breckinridge Center is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breckinridge Center
- Flournoy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Flournoy is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flournoy
- Hitesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hitesville is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitesville
- Grangertown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grangertown is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangertown
- Waverly
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sturgis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sullivan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sullivan is located in Union County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cottonwood, see our County-by-County Page for Cottonwood.
Cemeteries Near Cottonwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cottonwood.
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 Cottonwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cottonwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Sanders Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Cottonwood Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Swan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Plain View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Old Cottonwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Asbury Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Union Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Palestine #1 Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Green Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (356 more) ...
- Herald Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Old Village Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Palestine #2 Cemetery
(5 miles [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 Cottonwood had a population of 50 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cottonwood, with the one closest to Cottonwood listed first.
- Roland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roland is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- New Haven
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Omaha
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Herald
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Iron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Iron is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron
- Ridgway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elba
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elba is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Emma
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elm Grove ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elm Grove is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Grove
- Norris City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gossett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Gossett is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gossett
- Stokes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Texas City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Texas City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City
- Brownsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Brownsville is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Lawler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lawler is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cottonwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cottonwood.
Newspapers Published in Cottonwood ...
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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cottonwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cottonwood, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cottonwood.
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 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 Cottonwood:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Gallatin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Hardin County
- Pope County
- Saline County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson County
- Posey County
- Henderson County
- Union 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 Cottonwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Cottonwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |