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 Kings (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 Kings. 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.
Kings is located in Coles 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 Coles County: Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Kings. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kings:
- Coles County (The home county of Kings)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Oakland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Omer ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Saint Omer is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Rardin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Ashmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bushton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Charleston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Humboldt
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hutton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hutton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Dorans
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Cooks Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Lerna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mattoon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Magnet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Longview
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Broadlands
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pesotum
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Homer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rutherford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rutherford is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherford
- Sidney
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Philo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tolono
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sadorus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mira
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Savoy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mayview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Ivesdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Westfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cleone
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cleone is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleone
- Clarksville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Clarksville is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
- Oilfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Oilfield is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilfield
- Martinsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Clark Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Clark Center is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark Center
- Cumberland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cumberland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Dennison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dennison is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennison
- Marshall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Casey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Livingston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Livingston is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Farrington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Farrington is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrington
- Weaver
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Weaver is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Diona
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Diona is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
- Union Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Union Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Janesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Timothy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Timothy is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
- Johnstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Bradbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Hindsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Newman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Murdock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kemp
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Camargo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Patterson Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Filson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Fairland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Villa Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- Tuscola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Arcola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hayes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Chesterville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Brocton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Borton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Redmon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kansas
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hume
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Metcalf
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Conlogue
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Conlogue is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conlogue
- Grandview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Palermo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Paris
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Bell Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bell Ridge is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Ridge
- Bloomfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bloomfield is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Chrisman
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Coles
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Cadwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Allenville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Piatt County
- Atwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Allerton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Archie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Sidell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Indianola
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ridge Farm
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Vermilion Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Vermilion Grove is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vermilion Grove
- Olivet
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Olivet is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Fairmount
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Busenville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Busenville is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busenville
- Georgetown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fithian
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Catlin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Meeks
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Meeks is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeks
- Vermillion County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Blanford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Blanford is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanford
- Saint Bernice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Saint Bernice is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bernice
- Dana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dana is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 564 people
- Sandytown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sandytown is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandytown
- Universal
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Universal is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Universal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 339 people
- Clinton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fairview Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Fairview Park is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,298 people
- Vigo County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Libertyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Libertyville is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
- Pine Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pine Ridge is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
- New Goshen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Shepardsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Shepardsville is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Liggett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Liggett is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liggett
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kings, see our County-by-County Page for Kings.
Cemeteries Near Kings ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kings.
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 Kings - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kings covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Berry Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Rosedale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Zimmerman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Catfish Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gwinn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shields Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Harmony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Scott Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Catfish Point Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (354 more) ...
- Embarrass Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Payne Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hoagland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Kings in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Kings.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kings, with the one closest to Kings listed first.
- Oakland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Isabel
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Isabel is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isabel
- Borton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Brocton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Warrington
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Warrington is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrington
- Redmon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hindsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rardin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Kansas
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Melwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Melwood is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melwood
- Hughes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hughes is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughes
- Newman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Garland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Garland is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Murdock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bushton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kings. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kings.
Newspapers Published in Kings ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kings.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kings, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kings.
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 either 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 Kings:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Coles County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Clark County
- Cumberland County
- Douglas County
- Edgar County
- Moultrie County
- Piatt County
- Vermilion County
- Vermillion County
- Vigo 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 Kings, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Kings) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |