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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 Greenridge (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 Greenridge. 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.

Name Variations for Greenridge ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Green Ridge.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Greenridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Greenridge.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Greenridge is located in Macoupin 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 Macoupin County: Greene, Jersey, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan & Sangamon.

Below are the counties that are near Greenridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Greenridge:

  • Macoupin County     (The home county of Greenridge)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.
    • Girard
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Nilwood
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Standard City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Virden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Carlinville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Modesto
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Palmyra
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Comer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Hettick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Hagaman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Scottville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Hornsby
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • Chesterfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.
    • Zenobia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Morrisonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Palmer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Tovey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Bulpitt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Clarksdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Jeisyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Kincaid
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Langleyville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Edinburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sharpsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Taylorville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Velma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Rockbridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Wrights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Jersey County
    • Fidelity
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Madison County
    • Williamson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.
    • Farmersville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Waggoner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Shop Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • White Oak
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Raymond
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Honey Bend
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Litchfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Butler
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillsboro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Irving
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Schram City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Taylor Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.
    • Waverly
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Franklin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Alexander
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Pisgah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Murrayville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Arnold
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • South Jacksonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.
    • Thayer
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Lowder
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Auburn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Divernon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Commanche Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
    • Glenarm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pawnee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Loami
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Chatham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Woodside
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Woodside is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
    • Curran
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Curran is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • New Berlin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Scott County
    • Manchester
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Greenridge, see our County-by-County Page for Greenridge.

Cemeteries Near Greenridge ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Greenridge.

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 Greenridge - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Greenridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.

  • Girard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Girard City Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ross Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Union Chapel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Welton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Yowell Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sulphur Spring Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Cloud Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Providence Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • McCoupin Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (334 more) ...
    • Rovey Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Virden City Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Cherry Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

While we didn't find Greenridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Greenridge.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Greenridge, with the one closest to Greenridge listed first.

  • Nilwood
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Girard
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • McVey
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • McVey is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVey
  • Anderson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Anderson is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
  • Virden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Atwater
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Farmersville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Waggoner
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Thomasville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Thomasville is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
  • Lowder
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Carlinville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Zanesville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Zanesville is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zanesville
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Modesto
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Palmyra
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Barnett
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Barnett is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Greenridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Greenridge.

Newspapers Published in Greenridge ...

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 167 newspapers that have been published in the area around Greenridge.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Greenridge, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Greenridge.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Greenridge:

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>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 Greenridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Greenridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.