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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 Dunfermline (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 Dunfermline. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Dunfermline is located in Fulton 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 Fulton County: Knox, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Schuyler, Tazewell & Warren.

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

  • Fulton County     (The home county of Dunfermline)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunfermline, with the one closest to Dunfermline listed first.
    • Saint David
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Bryant
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Canton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Banner
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Breeds
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Liverpool
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Brereton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
    • Cuba
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Norris
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Fiatt
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lewistown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Bybee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bybee is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
    • Fairview
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunfermline, with the one closest to Dunfermline listed first.
    • Yates City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Maquon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Saint Augustine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • De Long
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Gilson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Abingdon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dahinda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Williamsfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunfermline, with the one closest to Dunfermline listed first.
    • Buzzville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Goofy Ridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Topeka
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Manito
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Havana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Forest City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Union
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Poplar City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Long Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Easton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bath
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Teheran
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Kilbourne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunfermline, with the one closest to Dunfermline listed first.
    • New Philadelphia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Adair
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Prairie City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Bushnell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Bardolph
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Menard County
    • Oakford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunfermline, with the one closest to Dunfermline listed first.
    • Glasford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston Mines
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Trivoli
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Hanna City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Elmwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Bartonville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Norwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Bellevue
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Edwards
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Pottstown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
    • Brimfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Schuyler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunfermline, with the one closest to Dunfermline listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Bader
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bader is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
    • Browning
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dunfermline, with the one closest to Dunfermline listed first.
    • Radville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Talbott
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Parkland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Stoehrs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Powerton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Crescent
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Midway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • South Pekin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
    • Green Valley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Pekin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pekin <1>
    • Schaeferville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Schaeferville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schaeferville
    • Pekin Heights
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Pekin Heights is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin Heights

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

Cemeteries Near Dunfermline ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dunfermline.

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

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

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

  • Highbridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Maryville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Shields Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Pollitt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Bybee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Orendorff Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Breeds Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (333 more) ...
    • White Chapel Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Saunders - Blackaby Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Wright Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Dunfermline had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Dunfermline had a population of 275 people.

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

  • Saint David
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Bryant
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Maples Mill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Maples Mill is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maples Mill
  • Canton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Civer ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Civer is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Civer
  • Monterey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Monterey is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
  • Rawalts
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rawalts is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawalts
  • Banner
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Liverpool
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Breeds
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Breeds is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
  • Cuba
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Cuba is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
  • Norris
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Lewistown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Fiatt
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bybee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bybee is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee

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

Newspapers Published in Dunfermline ...

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 156 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dunfermline.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dunfermline, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dunfermline.

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 Dunfermline:

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