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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 Covington (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 Covington. 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 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.

Covington is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Clay, Edwards, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Richland & White.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Covington)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Boyleston
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Sims
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Geff
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeffersonville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Wayne City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairfield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Cisne
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Johnsonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Keenes
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Barnhill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Enterprise
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Rinard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Golden Gate
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Kenner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Xenia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Travis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Louisville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Sailor Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Iola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Ellery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Bennington
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Albion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Maple Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Marion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Red Top
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Red Top is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
    • Bone Gap
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Browns
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • West Salem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • West Salem is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
    • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Frisco
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Whittington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Belle Prairie City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Bungay
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Piopolis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Dahlgren
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lovilla
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Diamond City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
    • McLeansboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Flint
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Macedonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Dale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Shields
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Markham City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Bluford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Belle Rive
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Opdyke
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Summersville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Mount Vernon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Texico
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Idlewood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Dix
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Bonnie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Iuka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Kell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Cartter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Bannister
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Omega
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Salem
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Gallagher
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Noble
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Parkersburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Calhoun
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Passport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Covington, with the one closest to Covington listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Springerton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Enfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Carmi
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Grayville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Calvin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Calvin is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
    • Crossville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Stokes
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stokes is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
    • Norris City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Covington ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Covington.

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

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

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

  • Cincinnati Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Lappin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Young Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Victory Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Bovee Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Bull Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cariens Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Hale Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Jeffersonville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (452 more) ...
    • Cambell Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Thomason Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Smyer Old Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>

While we didn't find Covington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Covington.

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

  • Sims
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Boyleston
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
  • Geff
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Jeffersonville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
  • Wayne City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Fairfield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Johnsonville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Hubbard
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Hubbard is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard
  • Cisne
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Keenes
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Mayberry
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Mayberry is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayberry
  • Merriam
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Merriam is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriam
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Enterprise
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Orchardville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
    • Mill Shoals
      (12 miles [19.3 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 Covington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Covington.

Newspapers Published in Covington ...

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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Covington.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Covington, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Covington.

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 Covington:

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