RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Clinton County >> Harbor Light Bay >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Harbor Light Bay (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 Harbor Light Bay. 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 and hospitals 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.

Harbor Light Bay is located in Clinton 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 Clinton County: Bond, Fayette, Madison, Marion, Saint Clair & Washington.

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

  • Clinton County     (The home county of Harbor Light Bay)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Keyesport
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Boulder
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Marydale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Huey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Huey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
    • Carlyle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Beckemeyer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hoffman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Posey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
    • Breese
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Rose
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
    • Centralia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bartelso
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Germantown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Pleasant Mound
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Greenville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mulberry Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Pocahontas
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pierron
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Old Ripley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Reno
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Sorento
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Shobonier
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hagarstown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Paul
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Bluff City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Vandalia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Brownstown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Peter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bingham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Loogootee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayle City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Avena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Farina
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Dix
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Jefferson City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Texico
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Roaches
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Roaches is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
    • Woodlawn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Idlewood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Sebastopol
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Sebastopol is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Highland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Grantfork
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Grantfork is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Saint Jacob
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Alhambra
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • New Douglas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Marine
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Livingston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Fairman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Patoka
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Sandoval
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Vernon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Junction City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
    • Central City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Odin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Salem
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Alma
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Walnut Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cartter
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Bannister
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Kinmundy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Donnellson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Panama
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Coffeen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Chapman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Fillmore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Taylor Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Walshville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Summerfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Lebanon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Lebanon is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lebanon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,225 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lebanon <1>
    • Mascoutah
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harbor Light Bay, with the one closest to Harbor Light Bay listed first.
    • Wamac
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Hoyleton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • New Minden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • New Minden is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Baldwin Heights
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Richview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Okawville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Addieville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Nashville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Ashley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Venedy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Venedy is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
    • Radom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
    • Stone Church
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Stone Church is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church

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

Cemeteries Near Harbor Light Bay ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harbor Light Bay.

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 Harbor Light Bay - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • McNeill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Keyesport Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • McKendree Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Gillespie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Clark Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Prichett Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Pritchett Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Brewster Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Duncan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Yingst Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Gerdes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Prairie Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Chapel Cemetery
    • The Prairie Chapel Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Maple Grove Cemetery
  • Continue List   (408 more) ...
    • Payne Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • New Carter Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Old Carter Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

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

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

  • Keyesport
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Boulder
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Boulder is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
  • Tamalco
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Tamalco is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamalco
  • Beaver Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Beaver Creek is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
  • Carlyle
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Huey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Huey is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
  • Hookdale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Hookdale is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hookdale
  • Shattuc
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Fairman
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Fairman is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
  • Pleasant Mound
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
  • Dudleyville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dudleyville is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
  • Hoffman
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sandoval
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Patoka
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Pittsburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Pittsburg is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg

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

Newspapers Published in Harbor Light Bay ...

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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harbor Light Bay.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harbor Light Bay, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harbor Light Bay.

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 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 Harbor Light Bay:

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 Harbor Light Bay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Harbor Light Bay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.