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 Gila (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 Gila. 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.
Gila is located in Jasper 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 Jasper County: Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Lawrence & Richland.
Below are the counties that are near Gila. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gila:
- Jasper County (The home county of Gila)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Wheeler
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Rose Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Hidalgo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lis is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
- Falmouth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Falmouth is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Newton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Yale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Hunt City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hunt City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
- Bogota
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bogota is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- Willow Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sainte Marie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Liberty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- West Liberty is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Oak Point
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Point is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Hogue Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hogue Town is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogue Town
- Casey
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cumberland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cumberland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Oilfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oilfield is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilfield
- Martinsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Melrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Westfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cleone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cleone is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleone
- Clark Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clark Center is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark Center
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Ingraham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Sailor Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Iola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Louisville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clay City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Trilla
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lerna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hutton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hutton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Magnet
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Charleston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mattoon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dorans
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Bellair
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bellair is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellair
- Kibbie ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Kibbie is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
- Dogwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Dogwood is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Oblong
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Annapolis
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Green Brier
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Green Brier is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
- Stoy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Oil Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oil Center is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
- Hardinville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hardinville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
- Landes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Landes is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
- Robinson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- New Hebron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- New Hebron is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Jewett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Walla Walla
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
- Greenup
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Toledo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hazel Dell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hazel Dell is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Dell
- Bradbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
- Timothy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Timothy is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
- Johnstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Union Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Neoga
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Janesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Diona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Diona is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Montrose
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Montrose is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Dieterich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Teutopolis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Green Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Green Creek is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Effingham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Heartville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Heartville is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heartville
- Watson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Funkhouser
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
- Shumway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Mason
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dexter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dexter is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Edgewood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fayette County
- La Clede
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- La Clede is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Gays
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Wakefield
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wakefield is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
- Dundas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Passport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Passport is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
- Olney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Noble
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Amity
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Amity is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Sigel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Trowbridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
- Stewardson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sexson Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Strasburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mode
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Mode is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
- Windsor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fancher
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Fancher is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gila, see our County-by-County Page for Gila.
Cemeteries Near Gila ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gila.
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 Gila - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gila covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Myer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hicks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Gila Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Diel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Redford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redford Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Redford Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<2> to the north of Newton.
- Island Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brewer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ward Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hayes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chezem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wheeler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (442 more) ...
- Bowers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Kibler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Coburn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 in 1895, Gila had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gila, with the one closest to Gila listed first.
- Wheeler
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lis is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
- Rose Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Hidalgo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Walla Walla
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
- Jewett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dieterich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Falmouth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Falmouth is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Montrose
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Montrose is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Newton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Greenup
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Roslyn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Roslyn is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roslyn
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Toledo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Teutopolis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Elliottstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elliottstown is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottstown
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gila. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gila.
Newspapers Published in Gila ...
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 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gila.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gila, 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 Gila.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Gila:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jasper County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Clay County
- Coles County
- Crawford County
- Cumberland County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Moultrie County
- Richland County
- Shelby 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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gila) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Gila, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |