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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 Covell (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 Covell. 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 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.

Covell is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

Below are the counties that are near Covell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Covell:

  • McLean County     (The home county of Covell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covell, with the one closest to Covell listed first.
    • Shirley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Stanford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Yuton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Bloomington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Danvers
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Danvers is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
      • Danvers has also been known as:
      • Danver
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
    • Normal
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Carlock
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • McLean
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Brokaw
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Downs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Gillum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Heyworth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hudson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covell, with the one closest to Covell listed first.
    • Waynesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Wapella
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Tabor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Hallsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Midland City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Clinton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Birkbeck
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Kenney
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • De Witt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Rowell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Fullerton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Lane
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Parnell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covell, with the one closest to Covell listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawndale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Evans
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Beason
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Hartsburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Emden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lincoln
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Chestervale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Chestnut
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • New Holland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Macon County
    • Maroa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covell, with the one closest to Covell listed first.
    • San Jose
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Natrona
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
  • Peoria County
    • Peoria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covell, with the one closest to Covell listed first.
    • Minier
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Lilly
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Tazewell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Armington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Mindale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Mackinaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Mackinaw is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackinaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
      • Former name for Mackinaw:
      • Mackinawtown
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mackinaw <1>
    • Richmond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Walnut
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Burt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Hopedale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Allentown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Allentown is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covell, with the one closest to Covell listed first.
    • Congerville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Kappa
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • El Paso
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Secor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Eureka
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Roanoke
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Metamora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Benson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Woodford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Germantown Hills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Covell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Covell.

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

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

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

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 Covell had a population of 45 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Shirley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Twin Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Twin Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
  • Funks Grove
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Funks Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funks Grove
  • Stanford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Bloomington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Danvers
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Danvers is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
    • Danvers has also been known as:
    • Danver
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
  • Yuton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Yuton is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
  • Hendrix
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Hendrix is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
  • Normal
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Randolph
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Randolph is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
  • McLean
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Carlock
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Brokaw
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Minier
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Heyworth
      (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 Covell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Covell.

Newspapers Published in Covell ...

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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Covell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Covell, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Covell.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Covell:

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 Covell, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Covell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.