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 Illinois City (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 Illinois City. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Illinois City 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 Illinois City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Illinois City:
- Rock Island County (The home county of Illinois City)
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Buffalo Prairie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Edgington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Andalusia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Reynolds
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Taylor Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Coyne Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Coyne Center is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyne Center
- Milan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rock Island
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Moline
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Coal Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- East Moline
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- East Moline is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 20,473 people
- Henderson County
- Milroy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Orion
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Briar Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Briar Bluff is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Bluff
- Colona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Green Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Green Rock is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Rock
- Lynn Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ophiem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Dayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dayton is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Alpha
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Marston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Eliza
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Petersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Mannon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Mannon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannon
- Joy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Aledo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Boston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Preemption
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Matherville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Shale City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- Gilchrist
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Keithsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Little York
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Eleanor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Cedar County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Sunbury
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sunbury is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbury
- Lime City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lime City is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lime City
- Former names for Lime City:
- Lime Kilns
- Munn
- Bennett
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bennett is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Rochester
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rochester is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Springdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Springdale is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Centerdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Centerdale is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerdale
- Downey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Downey is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Cedar Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Valley is located in Cedar County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Valley
- Tipton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- West Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Calamus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Calamus is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calamus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Wheatland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Wheatland is located in Clinton County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 724 people
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Kingston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Mediapolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson County (IA)
- Lone Tree
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Louisa County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Grandview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 519 people
- Letts
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Oakville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Wapello
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wapello is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,999 people
- Elrick Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
- Fredonia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Fredonia is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Columbus Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Columbus City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Columbus City is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- Morning Sun
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gladwin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gladwin is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Cotter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cotter is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Muscatine County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Fairport
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Midway Beach
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Midway Beach is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway Beach
- Muscatine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Prairie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Fruitland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Fruitland is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 966 people
- Stockton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Stockton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- South Towne Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- South Towne Park is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Park
- Wilton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wilton is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,800 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wilton <1>
- Moscow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Atalissa
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Nichols
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Nichols is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
- Scott County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Buffalo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Grass
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Durant
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Walcott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Davenport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Grove is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
- Maysville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Maysville is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- New Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- New Liberty is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Bettendorf
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Donahue
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Dixon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Dixon is located in Scott County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Eldridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Illinois City, see our County-by-County Page for Illinois City.
Cemeteries Near Illinois City ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Illinois City.
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 Illinois City - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Illinois City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Illinois City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Buffalo Prairie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairport Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nye Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Leech Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Krell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dodge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Miller Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Edgington Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Harker Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (335 more) ...
- Montpelier Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jewish Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 Illinois City had a population of 62 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Illinois City, with the one closest to Illinois City listed first.
- Fairport
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fairport is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Buffalo Prairie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Mills ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pine Mills is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Mills
- Montpelier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Montpelier is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Eliza
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eliza is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eliza
- Marston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marston is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marston
- Edgington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Edgington is located in Rock Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgington
- Muscatine
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Petersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Petersville is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Buffalo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Prairie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Prairie is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Prairie
- Andalusia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Summit
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Summit is located in Muscatine County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Hamlet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hamlet is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Blue Grass
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Illinois City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Illinois City.
Newspapers Published in Illinois City ...
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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Illinois City.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Illinois City, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Illinois City.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Illinois City:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Rock Island County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henderson County
- Henry County
- Mercer County
- Warren County
- Cedar County
- Clinton County
- Des Moines County
- Johnson County
- Louisa County
- Muscatine 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> | 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 Illinois City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Illinois City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |