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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 Heyworth (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 Heyworth. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Heyworth is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of Heyworth)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • Downs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Gillum
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Shirley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Brokaw
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • McLean
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Le Roy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Bloomington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Normal
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Yuton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Stanford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ellsworth
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Merna
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Towanda
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • Lotus
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Lotus is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
    • Foosland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • Wapella
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Waynesville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Clinton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Birkbeck
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Hallsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Tabor
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • De Witt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Lane
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Parnell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Midland City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Watkins
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Kenney
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Ford County
    • Proctor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Proctor is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Beason
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawndale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Chestnut
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Evans
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Chestervale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Lincoln
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Bell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Hartsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Latham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Emden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Broadwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • Maroa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Argenta
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Forsyth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Oreana
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Warrensburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Bearsdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • De Land
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Cisco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Mansfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Monticello
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • White Heath
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • Armington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Minier
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Burt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Richmond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Tazewell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Mindale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Lilly
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Walnut
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Boynton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Hopedale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Mackinaw
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Mackinaw is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackinaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
      • Former name for Mackinaw:
      • Mackinawtown
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mackinaw <1>
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Heyworth, with the one closest to Heyworth listed first.
    • Congerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Kappa
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Goodfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • El Paso
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Secor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Heyworth ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Heyworth.

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

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

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

  • Heyworth Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Bishop Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Passwater Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Particks Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Long Point Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Sugar Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Rutledge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Stewart Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Halsey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Crum Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Diamond Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (259 more) ...
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Diamond Grove Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fremont 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Heyworth had a population of 566 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Heyworth had a population of 2,869 people.

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

  • Randolph
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Randolph is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
  • Wapella
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Downs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Gillum
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Gillum is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
  • Shirley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Hendrix
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Hendrix is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
  • Funks Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Funks Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funks Grove
  • Waynesville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Solomon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Solomon is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solomon
  • Brokaw
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Brokaw is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
  • McLean
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Clinton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Birkbeck
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Le Roy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Covell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Covell is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covell

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Heyworth ...

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 163 newspapers that have been published in the area around Heyworth.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Heyworth. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Heyworth and those printed in the larger area surrounding Heyworth.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Heyworth.

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 Heyworth:

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 Heyworth, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Heyworth) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.