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 Florence (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 Florence. 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.
Florence is located in Pike 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 Pike County: Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Scott, Marion (MO), Pike (MO) & Ralls (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Florence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Florence:
- Pike County (The home county of Florence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Detroit
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Detroit is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Milton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Valley City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Bedford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Time
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Time is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Griggsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pearl
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Perry
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chambersburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- New Salem
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Straut
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Straut is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straut
- Martinsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsburg is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Beverly
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Beverly is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Kellerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kellerville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Versailles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Gilbirds
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Cooperstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Hersman
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Mount Sterling
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ripley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Mound Station
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Cliffdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
- Belleview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Belleview is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Kampsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mozier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hamburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Michael
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Arenzville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hagener
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Beardstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Bluff Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jules
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Old Princeton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Princeton is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
- Virginia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Hillview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Patterson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmington is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Roodhouse
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walkerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Walkerville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
- White Hall
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Belltown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Belltown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
- Eldred
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Wrights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Carrollton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Woody
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Woody is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
- Greenfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mid City ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mid City is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
- Jersey County
- Spankey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Spankey is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spankey
- Macoupin County
- Scottville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Lynnville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
- Meredosia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Chapin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Concord
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Murrayville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- South Jacksonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
- Woodson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Arcadia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Arcadia is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Arnold
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Arnold is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Pisgah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pisgah is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Literberry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Oxville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Winchester
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Naples
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Exeter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Glasgow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Glasgow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Bluffs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Manchester
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Pike County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Clarksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Louisiana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Annada
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Annada is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annada
- Population from the 2020 Census: 28 people
- Calumet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Calumet is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
- Paynesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paynesville is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Ashburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ashburn is located in Pike County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburn
- Population from the 2010 Census: 52 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Florence, see our County-by-County Page for Florence.
Cemeteries Near Florence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Florence.
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 Florence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Florence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Florence Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Blue River Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Watt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Douglas Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Milton - Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clemmons Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Taylor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ellis Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Holloway - Walker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Walker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bloomfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell Hollow Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (532 more) ...
- Mitchell Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hill - Crest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pettis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Florence had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Florence had a population of 36 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Detroit
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Detroit is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Milton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Montezuma
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Montezuma is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Valley City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Oxville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Bedford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Time
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Time is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Glasgow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Glasgow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Exeter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Naples
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Griggsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bluffs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Alsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Riggston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Riggston is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggston
- Pittsfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Florence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Florence.
Newspapers Published in Florence ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Florence.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Florence, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Florence.
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 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 Florence:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Pike County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Brown County
- Calhoun County
- Cass County
- Greene County
- Jersey County
- Macoupin County
- Morgan County
- Scott County
- Pike 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> | 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- Florence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Florence, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |