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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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 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.

Jefferson City is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Perry, Washington & Wayne.

Below are the counties that are near Jefferson City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Jefferson City:

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Jefferson City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Woodlawn
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Roaches
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Roaches is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
    • Idlewood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Dix
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Texico
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Marcoe
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
    • Mount Vernon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Summersville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Waltonville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Dareville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Dareville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
    • Scheller
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Bonnie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Clay County
    • Xenia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Centralia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hoffman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Posey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
    • Huey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Boulder
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Carlyle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bartelso
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Beckemeyer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Keyesport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Marydale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Germantown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Breese
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Sesser
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Whittington
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Ewing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Taylor Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Frisco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Rend City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Rend City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
    • Valier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Benton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Coello
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • North City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • North City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
    • West City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • West City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
    • Buckner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Dahlgren
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Lovilla
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Belle Prairie City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Macedonia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Piopolis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Walnut Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Kell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Central City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Cartter
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Junction City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
    • Odin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Sandoval
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Salem
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Hickory Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Bannister
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Fairman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
  • Perry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Tamaroa
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Sunfield is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
    • Saint Johns
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Johns is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Du Quoin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Du Quoin is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
    • Pinckneyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Winkle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Winkle is located in Perry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Baldwin Heights
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Richview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Ashley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Wamac
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Radom
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Hoyleton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Du Bois
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Du Bois is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
    • Posen
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Posen is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
    • Nashville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • New Minden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • New Minden is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Addieville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jefferson City, with the one closest to Jefferson City listed first.
    • Keenes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Wayne City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Sims
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Johnsonville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Jefferson City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jefferson 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 Jefferson City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Locust Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Mt. Catherine Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Gaston Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Piskey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Oddfellows Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Reynolds Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Boyd Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Boyd Farm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • New Shiloh Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Shiloh Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Randolph Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (429 more) ...
    • Memorial Garden Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Slade Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jennings Farm Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)

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.<2>

While we didn't find Jefferson City in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jefferson City.

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

  • Boyd
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Boyd is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
  • Roaches
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Roaches is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
  • Drivers
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Drivers is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drivers
  • Walnut Hill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Idlewood
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
  • Dix
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • 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>
  • Irvington
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Richview
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Ashley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Mount Vernon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Radom
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • 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>
  • Centralia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Central City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Divide
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Divide is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divide
    • Foxville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Foxville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxville

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

Newspapers Published in Jefferson 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 139 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jefferson City.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Jefferson City, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Jefferson City.

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 Jefferson City:

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>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 Jefferson City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Jefferson City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.