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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 Danvers (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 Danvers. 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.

Name Variations for Danvers ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Danvers has also been known as: Danver.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Danvers. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Danvers.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of Danvers)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danvers, with the one closest to Danvers listed first.
    • Carlock
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Yuton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Stanford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Normal
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Bloomington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Shirley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hudson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Towanda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • McLean
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Brokaw
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Gillum
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Downs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Heyworth
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danvers, with the one closest to Danvers listed first.
    • Waynesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Tabor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Wapella
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Hallsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Midland City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Clinton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Birkbeck
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Kenney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Livingston County
    • Flanagan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danvers, with the one closest to Danvers listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Lawndale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Emden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Evans
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Hartsburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Bell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Beason
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Lincoln
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danvers, with the one closest to Danvers listed first.
    • San Jose
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Natrona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danvers, with the one closest to Danvers listed first.
    • Peoria
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • North Peoria
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • North Peoria is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
    • Peoria Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • West Peoria
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bartonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Keller
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Keller is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
    • Mossville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pottstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
    • Bellevue
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Mapleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Rome
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Maxwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Norwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danvers, with the one closest to Danvers listed first.
    • Lilly
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Tazewell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Minier
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Mackinaw
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Deer Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Allentown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Allentown is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
    • Mindale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Mayfair
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Mayfair is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfair
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Hopedale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Armington
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danvers, with the one closest to Danvers listed first.
    • Congerville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Goodfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Kappa
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Eureka
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Secor
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • El Paso
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Roanoke
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Panola
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Metamora
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Benson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Germantown Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Bay View Gardens
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people

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

Cemeteries Near Danvers ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Danvers.

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

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

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

  • Park Lawn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hall - Barnard Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • North Danvers Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Imhoff Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • West Twin Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lantz Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Wintz Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Maurer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mitchell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • East Twin Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (304 more) ...
    • Lilly Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Troyer Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Danvers had a population of 506 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Danvers had a population of 1,093 people.

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

  • Carlock
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Twin Grove
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Twin Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
  • Lilly
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
  • Stanford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Congerville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Covell
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Covell is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covell
  • Yuton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Yuton is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
  • Goodfield
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Minier
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Normal
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Shirley
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Bloomington
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Deer Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Funks Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Funks Grove is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funks Grove
    • Hudson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Danvers ...

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 154 newspapers that have been published in the area around Danvers.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Danvers. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Danvers and those printed in the larger area surrounding Danvers.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4> of Danvers.

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 Danvers:

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 Danvers, 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 from Point A (ie- Danvers) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.