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 Jackson (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 Jackson. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Jackson is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Crawford, Richland, Wabash & Knox (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Jackson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Jackson:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Jackson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Lawrenceville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Billett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Billett is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
- Bridgeport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Birds
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Saint Francisville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Russellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sumner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Helena
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Helena is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Petersburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Oil Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Oil Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Grove
- Flat Rock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Heathsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Heathsville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathsville
- Villas
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Villas is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villas
- Duncanville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Duncanville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- New Hebron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- New Hebron is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
- Hardinville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hardinville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
- Landes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Landes is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
- Green Brier
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Green Brier is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
- Gordon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gordon is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Palestine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Oil Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oil Center is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
- Edwards County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
- West Salem
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- West Salem is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
- Bone Gap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Marion
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Marion is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Bennington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bennington is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
- Browns
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Sainte Marie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- West Liberty is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
- Willow Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hunt City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hunt City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Amity
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Amity is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Berryville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Claremont
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Calhoun
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Parkersburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Olney
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dundas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Gallagher
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gallagher is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
- Noble
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wabash County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Allendale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Orio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Orio is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orio
- Adams Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Adams Corner is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
- Lancaster
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lancaster is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
- Patton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Patton is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
- Mount Carmel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bellmont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Keensburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Davies's County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Capehart
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Capehart is located in Davies's County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capehart
- Graham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Graham is located in Davies's County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Sandy Hook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sandy Hook is located in Davies's County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
- Washington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Plainville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Plainville is located in Davies's County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 500 people
- Gibson County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Hazleton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Giro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Giro is located in Gibson County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giro
- Patoka
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Patoka is located in Gibson County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 784 people
- Princeton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Douglas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Douglas is located in Gibson County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
- Francisco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Francisco is located in Gibson County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francisco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 558 people
- Dongola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dongola is located in Gibson County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dongola
- Knox County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Vincennes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Beal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Beal is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal
- Bruceville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fritchton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fritchton is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fritchton
- Busseron
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Busseron is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busseron
- Verne
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Verne is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verne
- Oaktown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Decker
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Decker is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
- Ragsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ragsdale is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ragsdale
- Monroe City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe City is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
- Bicknell
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Wheatland
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Wheatland is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 469 people
- Pike County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Union
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Union is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Oatsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oatsville is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatsville
- Petersburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,299 people
- Alford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alford is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alford
- Glezen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Glezen is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glezen
- Algiers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Algiers is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algiers
- Highbank Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Highbank Town is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highbank Town
- Sullivan County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Carlisle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Merom
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- New Lebanon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Paxton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Paxton is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Graysville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Graysville is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
- Sullivan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gambill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gambill is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gambill
- Jericho
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jericho is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Scotchtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Scotchtown is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotchtown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Jackson, see our County-by-County Page for Jackson.
Cemeteries Near Jackson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jackson.
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 Jackson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Jackson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- May Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lawrenceville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Hollister Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Portee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Goines Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Billett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Billett Cemetery is located in Billett.
- The Billett Cemetery has also been known as:
- Billett - Gottfried Cemetery
- Gottfried Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1312081 <2>
- Centerville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Howard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Derr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Collins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Otterburn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Tann Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (406 more) ...
- Portee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Buchanan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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>
While we didn't find Jackson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jackson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Jackson, with the one closest to Jackson listed first.
- Lawrenceville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Billett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Billett is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
- Pinkstaff
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pinkstaff is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkstaff
- Bridgeport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Vincennes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Francisville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Birds
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Beal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Beal is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal
- Russellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Westport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Westport is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Purcell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Purcell is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purcell
- Emison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Emison is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emison
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sumner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bruceville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Heathsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Heathsville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathsville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Jackson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Jackson.
Newspapers Published in Jackson ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jackson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Jackson, 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 Jackson.
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 Jackson:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Crawford County
- Edwards County
- Jasper County
- Richland County
- Wabash County
- Davies's County
- Gibson County
- Knox County
- Pike County
- Sullivan 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 Jackson, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Jackson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |