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 Homer (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 Homer. 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 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.
Homer is located in Champaign 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 Champaign County: Douglas, Edgar, Ford, McLean, Piatt & Vermilion.
Below are the counties that are near Homer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Homer:
- Champaign County (The home county of Homer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Rutherford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rutherford is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherford
- Ogden
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Saint Joseph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sidney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Broadlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mayview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Philo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Royal
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Longview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mira
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Urbana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Flatville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Flatville is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatville
- Champaign
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Oakland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Rardin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Fairland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Villa Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- Newman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Murdock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Camargo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hayes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Patterson Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Tuscola
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hindsboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Chicken Bristle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Ficklin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Kemp
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Filson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Palermo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Hume
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Metcalf
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brocton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Chrisman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomfield is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Scottland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Scottland is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottland
- Borton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Raven
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Raven is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Redmon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Logan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kidley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kidley is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kidley
- Ford County
- Paxton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Piatt County
- White Heath
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fithian
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Muncie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Allerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Missionfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Missionfield is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionfield
- Archie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Sidell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Belgium Row
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Belgium Row is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgium Row
- Glenburn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glenburn is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenburn
- Catlin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Newtown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Newtown is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Indianola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain County (IN)
- Covington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Vermillion County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Rileysburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rileysburg is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rileysburg
- Gessie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Gessie is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gessie
- Cayuga
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cayuga is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,095 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cayuga <1>
- Eugene
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Eugene is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eugene
- Perrysville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tree Spring
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Tree Spring is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tree Spring
- Dana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dana is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 564 people
- Newport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Warren County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- State Line City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- State Line City is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- State Line
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- State Line is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
- Foster
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Foster is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Baltimore is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Hedrick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hedrick is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedrick
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Homer, see our County-by-County Page for Homer.
Cemeteries Near Homer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Homer.
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 Homer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Homer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Homer Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
- The Homer Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery has also been known as:
- American Legion Cemetery
- Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
- Homer G. A. R Cemetery
- Old Homer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Homer Cemetery
- The Old Homer Cemetery has also been known as:
- Dunkard Cemetery
- Umbenhower Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lost Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burris - Hartman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burris - Hartman Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Burris - Hartman Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the northwest of Homer.
- Bodkin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Loeffler Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loeffler Cemetery
- The Loeffler Cemetery has also been known as:
- Loeffler Family Burials
- Peters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peters Cemetery
- The Peters Cemetery has also been known as:
- Thompson Cemetery
- Bliss Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliss Cemetery
- The Bliss Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Bliss Cemetery
- Davis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Patterson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (312 more) ...
- Greenview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenview Cemetery
- The Greenview Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fairmount Cemetery
- Old Huss Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
- The Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ayers Luthern Cemetery
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Homer had a population of 917 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Homer had a population of 1,143 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Homer, with the one closest to Homer listed first.
- Ogden
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Saint Joseph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sidney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fithian
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Broadlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Allerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Muncie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Deers
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Deers is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deers
- Mayview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Philo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Archie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Sidell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Missionfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Missionfield is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionfield
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Homer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Homer.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Homer ...
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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Homer.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Homer. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Homer and those printed in the larger area surrounding Homer.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<2> of Homer.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Homer:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Champaign County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coles County
- Douglas County
- Edgar County
- Ford County
- Piatt County
- Vermilion County
- Fountain County
- Vermillion County
- Warren 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Homer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Homer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |