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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 Hillsboro (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 Hillsboro. 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 Hillsboro ...

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.

Another variation: Hillsborough.

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

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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Hillsboro is located in Montgomery County and is the County Seat.

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 Montgomery County: Bond, Christian, Fayette, Macoupin, Madison, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Montgomery County     (The home county of Hillsboro)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • Schram City
      (Less than 2 miles 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
    • Butler
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Taylor Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Irving
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Coffeen
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Witt
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Witt is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Witt <1>
    • Honey Bend
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Litchfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Donnellson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Panama
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Chapman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Walshville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Coalton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • Sorento
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Reno
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Greenville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Old Ripley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Smithboro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Mulberry Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Pocahontas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Pierron
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • Morrisonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Palmer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Rosamond
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Clarksdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Zenobia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Millersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Millersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Owaneco
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Pana
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <1>
    • Velma
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
    • Jeisyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Langleyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Taylorville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Bulpitt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • Bingham
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Bayle City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Ramsey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Dressor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Hagarstown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Vandalia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bluff City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Shobonier
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Brownstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • Hornsby
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • Mount Olive
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Ka-ho
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Lake Ka-ho is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ka-ho
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
      • Lake Ka-ho has also been known as:
      • Lake Ka-Ho village
    • White City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • White City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
    • Eagarville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Benld
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Benld is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benld
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benld <1>
    • East Gillespie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Gillespie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Sawyerville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Mount Clare
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Mount Clare is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clare
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
    • Standard City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Staunton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Wilsonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • New Douglas
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Williamson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Livingston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Alhambra
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Worden
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Grantfork
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Grantfork is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Prairietown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Hamel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • Divernon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Commanche Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Commanche Village is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commanche Village
    • Pawnee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Thayer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hillsboro, with the one closest to Hillsboro listed first.
    • Oconee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Herrick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Hillsboro ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hillsboro.

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

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

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

  • Cress Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Bluffs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • McCord Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Agnes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Butler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Montgomery Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • King Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • County Farm Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ware's Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Clear Springs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (334 more) ...
    • Mansfield Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Waveland Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • McDavid Point Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hillsboro had a population of 2,500 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Hillsboro had a population of 5,909 people.

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

  • Butler
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Irving
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Coffeen
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Honey Bend
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
  • Litchfield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Walshville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Donnellson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Chapman
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
  • Fillmore
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Raymond
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Shop Creek
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
  • Harvel
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Sorento
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Zanesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Zanesville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zanesville
    • Barnett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • 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 Hillsboro. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hillsboro.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hillsboro ...

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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hillsboro.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hillsboro. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hillsboro and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hillsboro.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Hillsboro.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Hillsboro:

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 Hillsboro, 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- Hillsboro) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.