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 Eureka (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 Eureka. 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.
Eureka is located in Woodford County and is the County Seat.
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 Woodford County: La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria & Tazewell.
Below are the counties that are near Eureka. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Eureka:
- Woodford County (The home county of Eureka)
- The following are listed by their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Goodfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Roanoke
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Secor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Metamora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Congerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Germantown Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Benson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- El Paso
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Kappa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Kappa is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Panola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Bay View Gardens
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Spring Bay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Rutland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dana
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Priscilla ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Priscilla is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priscilla
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Flanagan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Graymont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Long Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ancona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Logan County
- Emden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- La Rose
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hopewell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hopewell is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Toluca
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lacon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Varna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sparland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Wenona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Henry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Carlock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Danvers
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Hudson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yuton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yuton is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
- Stanford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Gridley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Normal
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Towanda
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Shirley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Meadows
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Meadows is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
- Brokaw
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brokaw is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Peoria Heights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Mossville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rome
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Peoria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- North Peoria is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
- Peoria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Keller
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- Chillicothe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- West Peoria
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bartonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Orange Prairie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pottstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pottstown is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
- Putnam County
- Magnolia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Stark County
- Speer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Deer Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Washington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cooper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Mayfair
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mayfair is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfair
- Beverly Manor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Beverly Manor is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Manor
- Harvard Hills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Harvard Hills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard Hills
- Morton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sunnyland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lilly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lilly is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Allentown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Allentown is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
- Farmdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Eureka, see our County-by-County Page for Eureka.
Cemeteries Near Eureka ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Eureka.
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 Eureka - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Eureka covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Olio Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Eureka Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hartman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Woosley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Allison Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mennonite Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mennonite Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Apostolic Christian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- County Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (306 more) ...
- Presbyterian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Presbyterian Cemetery
- The Presbyterian Cemetery has also been known as:
- Deer Creek Cemetery
- Stumbaugh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dells Apostolic Christian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Eureka had a population of 1,491 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Eureka had a population of 5,232 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Eureka, with the one closest to Eureka listed first.
- Cruger
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Cruger is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruger
- Goodfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Deer Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roanoke
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Washington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cooper
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Congerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Secor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Metamora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Cazenovia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cazenovia is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazenovia
- Morton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Carlock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Low Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Low Point is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Point
- Farmdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Eureka. See our List of 1890's Communities around Eureka.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Eureka ...
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 125 newspapers that have been published in the area around Eureka.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Eureka. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Eureka and those printed in the larger area surrounding Eureka.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4> of Eureka.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Eureka:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Woodford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- La Salle County
- Livingston County
- Logan County
- Marshall County
- McLean County
- Peoria County
- Putnam County
- Stark County
- Tazewell 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 Eureka, 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- Eureka) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |