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 Greer (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 Greer. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Greer is located in Iroquois 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 Iroquois County: Ford, Kankakee, Vermilion, Benton (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Greer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Greer:
- Iroquois County (The home county of Greer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Wellington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Stockland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Milford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Goodwine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Claytonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Schwer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Schwer is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
- Woodland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Cissna Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Effner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Effner is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Effner
- Sheldon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Watseka
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Iroquois
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Penfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gifford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ludlow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Royal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ford County
- Paxton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Coalton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Coalton is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
- Hoopeston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rossville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- East Lynn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alvin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Alvin is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Alvin has also been known as:
- Alvan Village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alvin <1>
- Henning
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Rankin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bismarck
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Potomac
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Armstrong
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Illiana
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Illiana is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Illiana
- Collison
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Denmark is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Benton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Ambia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Dunn ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Dunn is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Talbot
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Freeland Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Freeland Park is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeland Park
- Boswell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Raub
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Raub is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raub
- Earl Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Earl Park is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earl Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 342 people
- Gravel Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gravel Hill is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Fowler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Atkinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Atkinson is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson
- Oxford
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Templeton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Templeton is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Templeton
- Wadena
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wadena is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadena
- Fountain County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Attica
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Covington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Roberts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Roberts is located in Fountain County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roberts
- Stone Bluff
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Stone Bluff is located in Fountain County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Bluff
- Jasper County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Remington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt is located in Jasper County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Newton County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Kentland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Newton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Newton is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Goodland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Beaver City is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Foresman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Foresman is located in Newton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foresman
- Morocco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tippecanoe County (IN)
- Montmorenci
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Montmorenci is located in Tippecanoe County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montmorenci
- Vermillion County (IN)
- Rileysburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- 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 Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Pence
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pence is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pence
- Brisco ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brisco is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brisco
- Hedrick
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Hedrick is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedrick
- Sloan ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sloan is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
- Pine Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Chatterton ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chatterton is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatterton
- Old Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Town is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- West Lebanon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Lebanon is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 686 people
- State Line City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- State Line is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
- Williamsport
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Green Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Green Hill is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Baltimore is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Greer, see our County-by-County Page for Greer.
Cemeteries Near Greer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Greer.
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 Greer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Greer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Floral Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Totheroh Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sugar Creek Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Redtop Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Old Milford Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Amity Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Old Apostolic Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Rossville Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Miller Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Boswell Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Vennum Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (219 more) ...
- East Lynn Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Smith Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Greer in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Greer.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Greer, with the one closest to Greer listed first.
- Cheneyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cheneyville is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheneyville
- Wellington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ambia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Dunnington
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Dunnington is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunnington
- Stockland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hoopeston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Talbot
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Milford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hickman is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Goodwine
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- East Lynn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rossville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Boswell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Claytonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Chase
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Chase is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chase
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Greer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Greer.
Newspapers Published in Greer ...
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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Greer.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Greer, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Greer.
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 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 Greer:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Iroquois County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Ford County
- Vermilion County
- Benton County
- Fountain County
- Jasper County
- Newton County
- Tippecanoe 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 Greer, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Greer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |