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 Hillsdale (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 Hillsdale. 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 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.
Hillsdale is located in Rock Island 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 Rock Island County: Clinton (IA), Louisa (IA), Muscatine (IA), Scott (IA), Henry, Mercer & Whiteside.
Below are the counties that are near Hillsdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hillsdale:
- Rock Island County (The home county of Hillsdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Joslin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Cordova
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Port Byron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rapids City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rustic Acres
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rustic Acres is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustic Acres
- Barstow
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hampton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Carbon Cliff
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Silvis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- East Moline
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Coal Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Moline
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Rock Island
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bureau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Yorktown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Yorktown is located in Bureau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorktown
- Mineral
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Bedford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Manlius
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sheffield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Neponset
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Thomson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ideal
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ideal is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ideal
- Fair Haven
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fair Haven is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Haven
- Argo Fay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Argo Fay is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Fay
- Ayers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ayers is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers
- Daggett ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Daggett is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daggett
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Hickory Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hickory Hills is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hills
- Cleveland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Geneseo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Colona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Hooppole
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Briar Bluff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Atkinson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Morristown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Morristown is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morristown
- Osco
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Annawan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Orion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Sherrard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Preemption
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Griffin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Griffin is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
- Whiteside County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Erie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Newton Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Newton Corners is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Corners
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Denrock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
- Fenton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Albany
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Prophetstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lyndon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Clinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- East Clinton is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Clinton
- Fulton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Morrison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Grove is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Tampico
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Camanche
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Shaffton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shaffton is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaffton
- Folletts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Folletts is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folletts
- Clinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Low Moor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elvira
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elvira is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elvira
- Sixmile
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sixmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixmile
- De Witt
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tenmile
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Tenmile is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Andover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Andover is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Bryant
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bryant is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Elk River Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Elk River Junction is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk River Junction
- Goose Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Goose Lake is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goose Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Le Claire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Princeton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Panorama Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Panorama Park is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panorama Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 331 people
- Riverdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Riverdale is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 398 people
- McCausland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- McCausland is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCausland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Bettendorf
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Park View
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Park View is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park View
- Davenport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Eldridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Long Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Noel ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Noel is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noel
- Donahue
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hillsdale, see our County-by-County Page for Hillsdale.
Cemeteries Near Hillsdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hillsdale.
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 Hillsdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hillsdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Bethesda Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pleasant Point Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Zuma Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- McHenry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sharon Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Erie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Schaefer Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colbert Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pink Prairie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (271 more) ...
- Bowman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Loraine Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hillsdale had a population of 185 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Hillsdale had a population of 502 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hillsdale, with the one closest to Hillsdale listed first.
- Joslin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Joslin is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joslin
- Erie
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Spring Hill is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Osborn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Osborn is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Rapids City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cordova
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Port Byron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Le Claire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Princeton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cleveland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Pratt ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pratt is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Barstow
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Green River
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Green River is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green River
- Geneseo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Denrock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Denrock is located in Whiteside County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denrock
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hillsdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hillsdale.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hillsdale ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hillsdale.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hillsdale. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hillsdale and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hillsdale.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3> of Hillsdale.
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 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 Hillsdale:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Rock Island County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bureau County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Mercer County
- Whiteside County
- Clinton County
- Scott 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> | 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 Hillsdale, 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- Hillsdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |