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 Eden (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 Eden. 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.
Eden is located in Randolph 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 Randolph County: Jackson, Monroe, Perry, Saint Clair, Washington, Perry (MO) & Sainte Genevieve (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Eden. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Eden:
- Randolph County (The home county of Eden)
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Sparta
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Coulterville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Tilden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Houston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Houston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Blair
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Percy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Steeleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Baldwin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Preston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Preston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Walsh
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Walsh is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walsh
- Bremen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Welge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- New Palestine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- New Memphis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Damiansville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Damiansville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damiansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- New Baden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Albers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bartelso
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Germantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Campbell Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Degognia
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Ava
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Oraville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Vergennes
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Jacob
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dowell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elkville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hallidayboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Gorham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Murphysboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Hecker
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Renault
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Burksville Station
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Burksville Station is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burksville Station
- Burksville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Burksville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burksville
- Fults
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Waterloo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wartburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wartburg is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wartburg
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Cutler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Winkle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Willisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Conant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Denmark
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Pinckneyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Pyatts
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Sunfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Du Quoin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Marissa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lenzburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Libory
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- New Athens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Athens is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Athens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,865 people
- Fayetteville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fayetteville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- Lementon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lementon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lementon
- Freeburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mascoutah
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Smithton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Clarmin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Caspars
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- Elkton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Oakdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Stone Church
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Stone Church is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church
- Venedy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Venedy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Posen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Addieville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Nashville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Okawville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Du Bois
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- New Minden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Minden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Radom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- McBride
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- McBride is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- Lithium
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
- Sereno
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sereno is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sereno
- Farrar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Perryville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Eureka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Quarry Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Quarry Town is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry Town
- Quarry Town has also been known as:
- Quarrytown
- Saint Mary
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Little Rock Landing ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Landing is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Landing
- Sainte Genevieve
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Marlo ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marlo is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlo
- Ozora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ozora is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozora
- Clement ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Clement is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clement
- Zell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Zell is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zell
- River aux Vases
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- River aux Vases is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River aux Vases
- Former name for River aux Vases:
- Staabtown
- Brickeys
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Brickeys is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickeys
- Former names for Brickeys:
- Brickeys Gristmill
- Brickeys Landing
- Minnith
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Minnith is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnith
- Bloomsdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Eden, see our County-by-County Page for Eden.
Cemeteries Near Eden ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Eden.
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 Eden - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Eden covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Caledonia Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hill Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lively Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Coulterville City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tilden City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Steeleville City Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Peace Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- IOOF Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cutler Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutler Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Cutler Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Cutler.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #989970 <2>
- Lessley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Galum Baptist Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (339 more) ...
- Immanuel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bethel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jordan Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
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>
While we didn't find Eden in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Eden.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Eden, with the one closest to Eden listed first.
- Sparta
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Coulterville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blair
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Houston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Houston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Tilden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Steeleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Percy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Kampenville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kampenville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kampenville
- Swanwick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Swanwick is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swanwick
- Cutler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Marissa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Preston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Preston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- New Palestine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Bremen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Eden. See our List of 1890's Communities around Eden.
Newspapers Published in Eden ...
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 140 newspapers that have been published in the area around Eden.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Eden, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Eden.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Eden:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Jackson County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
- Saint Clair County
- Washington County
- Perry County
- Sainte Genevieve 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 Eden, 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- Eden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |