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 Jamaica (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 Jamaica. 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 doctors 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.
Jamaica is located in Vermilion 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 Vermilion County: Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Benton (IN), Vermillion (IN) & Warren (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Jamaica. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Jamaica:
- Vermilion County (The home county of Jamaica)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Fairmount
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sidell
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Indianola
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Busenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Busenville is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busenville
- Archie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Catlin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Missionfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Missionfield is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionfield
- Muncie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Oakwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Allerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Georgetown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Olivet
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Olivet is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Fithian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Homer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ogden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Broadlands
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rutherford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Rutherford is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherford
- Saint Joseph
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sidney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Longview
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Royal
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mayview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Philo
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mira
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Flatville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Flatville is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatville
- Penfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Oakland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rardin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Newman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Murdock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Grove
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Camargo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Hayes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Hindsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kemp
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Tuscola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Filson
(30 miles [48.3 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 Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Palermo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Hume
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Metcalf
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Chrisman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Scottland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Scottland is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottland
- Bloomfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomfield is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Raven
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Raven is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Brocton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Logan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kidley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kidley is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kidley
- Borton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Redmon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Clays Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Clays Prairie is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Prairie
- Fountain County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Covington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Layton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Layton is located in Fountain County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton
- Harveysburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Harveysburg is located in Fountain County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveysburg
- Kingman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Veedersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Parke County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- West Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- West Union is located in Parke County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Montezuma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Armiesburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Armiesburg is located in Parke County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armiesburg
- Annapolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Annapolis is located in Parke County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annapolis
- Vermillion County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Rileysburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rileysburg is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rileysburg
- Eugene
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eugene is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eugene
- Gessie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Gessie is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gessie
- Cayuga
(18 miles [29 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>
- Perrysville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Dana
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Tree Spring
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Tree Spring is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tree Spring
- Newport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Saint Bernice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Bernice is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bernice
- Alta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alta is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Hillsdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Blanford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blanford is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanford
- Sandytown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sandytown is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandytown
- Vigo County (IN)
- Libertyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Libertyville is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Warren County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Foster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Foster is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- State Line City
(20 miles [32.2 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
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- State Line is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
- Baltimore ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Baltimore is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baltimore
- Hedrick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hedrick is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedrick
- Sloan ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sloan is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
- Old Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Old Town is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Pence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pence is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pence
- West Lebanon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Lebanon is located in Warren County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 686 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Jamaica, see our County-by-County Page for Jamaica.
Cemeteries Near Jamaica ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jamaica.
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 Jamaica - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Jamaica covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Greenview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenview Cemetery
- The Greenview Cemetery has also been known as:
- Fairmount Cemetery
- Davis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stunkard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Weaver Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sandusky Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hickman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dougherty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dougherty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lebanon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (345 more) ...
- Michael Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Concord Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord Cemetery
- The Concord Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
- God's Acre Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for God's Acre Cemetery
- The God's Acre Cemetery has also been known as:
- Butler Burying Ground
- Butler Cemetery
- Butler Point 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.<3>
While we didn't find Jamaica in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jamaica.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Jamaica, with the one closest to Jamaica listed first.
- Fairmount
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sidell
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Indianola
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Archie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Catlin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Allerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Muncie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hildreth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hildreth is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hildreth
- Missionfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Missionfield is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionfield
- Oakwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Homer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Palermo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Fithian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vermilion Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vermilion Grove is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion Grove
- Georgetown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Jamaica. See our List of 1890's Communities around Jamaica.
Newspapers Published in Jamaica ...
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 125 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jamaica.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Jamaica, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Jamaica.
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 Jamaica:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Vermilion County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Coles County
- Douglas County
- Edgar County
- Fountain County
- Parke County
- Vermillion County
- Vigo 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> | 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 Jamaica, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Jamaica) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |