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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 Hoffman (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 Hoffman. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.

Hoffman 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 Hoffman. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hoffman:

  • Clinton County     (The home county of Hoffman)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Huey
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Posey
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
    • Centralia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Carlyle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Boulder
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Beckemeyer
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bartelso
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Marydale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Keyesport
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Breese
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Germantown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Saint Rose
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
    • Albers
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Pleasant Mound
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Greenville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Smithboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Pierron
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Pocahontas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Mulberry Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Old Ripley
      (29 miles [46.7 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
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Shobonier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Hagarstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Jefferson City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Roaches
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Roaches is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
    • Dix
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Woodlawn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Texico
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Idlewood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Marcoe
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
    • Mount Vernon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Summersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Waltonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Scheller
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Dareville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Dareville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
    • Marlow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Sebastopol
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sebastopol is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Highland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Grantfork
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Grantfork is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Saint Jacob
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Central City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Junction City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
    • Sandoval
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Walnut Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Fairman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Odin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Patoka
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Salem
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Cartter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Kell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Vernon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bannister
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Alma
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Tamaroa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Winkle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Winkle is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
  • Randolph County
    • Coulterville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Clair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Summerfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Saint Libory
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Mascoutah
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Lebanon
      (29 miles [46.7 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>
    • Fayetteville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Fayetteville is located in Saint Clair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hoffman, with the one closest to Hoffman listed first.
    • Wamac
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Hoyleton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Baldwin Heights
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • New Minden
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • New Minden is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Richview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Nashville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Addieville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Okawville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Radom
      (18 miles [29 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>
    • Posen
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Posen is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
    • Du Bois
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Du Bois is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people

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

Cemeteries Near Hoffman ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hoffman.

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

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

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

  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Petrea Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Knolhoff Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Wadsworth Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Matsler Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Harres Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Garrison Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Collins Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Gilmore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Barker Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (393 more) ...
    • Posey Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Trinity Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Zion 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Hoffman had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Hoffman had a population of 478 people.

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

  • Huey
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • 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>
  • Posey
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Posey is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
  • Hoyleton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Centralia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Shattuc
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Central City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Central City is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
  • Carlyle
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • New Minden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • New Minden is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
  • Irvington
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Sandoval
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Boulder
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Boulder is located in Clinton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
  • Bartelso
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Richview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Walnut Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Odin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>

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

Newspapers Published in Hoffman ...

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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hoffman.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hoffman, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hoffman.

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 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 Hoffman:

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 Hoffman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Hoffman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.