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 Gifford (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 Gifford. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Gifford is located in Champaign 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 Champaign County: Douglas, Edgar, Ford, McLean, Piatt & Vermilion.
Below are the counties that are near Gifford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gifford:
- Champaign County (The home county of Gifford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Penfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Flatville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Flatville is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatville
- Rantoul
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ludlow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Royal
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Thomasboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Prospect
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Prospect is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
- Ogden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Saint Joseph
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dewey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Mayview
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Urbana
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Champaign
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Douglas County
- Fairland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Paxton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Elliott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Proctor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Proctor is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
- Gibson City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gibson City is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,275 people
- Gibson City has also been known as:
- Gibson
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson City <1>
- Melvin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roberts
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Garber
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Garber is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
- Sibley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Iroquois County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Loda
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cissna Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Buckley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Claytonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Goodwine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wellington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Del Rey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
- Thawville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woodworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Ridgeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Milford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Schwer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Schwer is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
- Onarga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Livingston County
- Strawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Bellflower
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Laurette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Laurette is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurette
- Saybrook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kumler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kumler is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kumler
- Glen Avon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Glen Avon is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Mansfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- White Heath
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Armstrong
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Potomac
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Rankin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Collison
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Lynn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fithian
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Henning
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Muncie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newtown is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Glenburn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Glenburn is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenburn
- Belgium Row
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Belgium Row is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgium Row
- Missionfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Missionfield is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionfield
- Oakwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Benton County (IN)
- Ambia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Vermillion County (IN)
- Rileysburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rileysburg is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rileysburg
- Warren County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Pence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pence is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pence
- State Line City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- State Line City is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- State Line
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- State Line is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
- Hedrick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hedrick is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedrick
- Sloan ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sloan is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gifford, see our County-by-County Page for Gifford.
Cemeteries Near Gifford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gifford.
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 Gifford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gifford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Huls Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Welles Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welles Cemetery
- The Welles Cemetery has also been known as:
- Comprise Cemetery
- St. Lawrence Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
- The Holy Sepulchre Cemetery has also been known as:
- Catholic Cemetery
- Rantoul Catholic Cemetery
- Rantoul Holy Speulchre Cemetery
- St. Malachy Cemetery
- Beckman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Huffman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Kopman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Tomlinson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomlinson Cemetery
- The Tomlinson Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tomlinson Pioneer Cemetery
- Chenoweth Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Harwood Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood Chapel Cemetery
- The Harwood Chapel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Webber Cemetery
- Patton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (236 more) ...
- Maplewood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Eden Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Cemetery
- The Eden Cemetery has also been known as:
- American Luthern Church Cemetery
- Battershell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gifford had a population of 375 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Gifford had a population of 1,035 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gifford, with the one closest to Gifford listed first.
- Dillsburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Dillsburg is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillsburg
- Penfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Flatville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Flatville is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatville
- Rantoul
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Armstrong
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ludlow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Royal
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Thomasboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sellers
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sellers is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Hope
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hope is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope
- Paxton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Blue Grass ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Blue Grass is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Grass
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Clarence
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Clarence is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarence
- Prospect
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Prospect is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
- Potomac
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gifford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gifford.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gifford ...
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 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gifford.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gifford. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gifford and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gifford.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4> of Gifford.
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 either 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 Gifford:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Champaign County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Douglas County
- Ford County
- Iroquois County
- Livingston County
- McLean County
- Piatt County
- Vermilion County
- Benton County
- Vermillion County
- Warren 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 Gifford, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gifford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |