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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 Lawndale (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 Lawndale. 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.

Lawndale is located in Logan 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 Logan County: De Witt, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Sangamon & Tazewell.

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

  • Logan County     (The home county of Lawndale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Evans
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Bell
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Beason
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lincoln
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Chestervale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Hartsburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Emden
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Chestnut
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Broadwell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Mount Pulaski
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • New Holland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • Tabor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Waynesville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Midland City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Hallsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Kenney
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Wapella
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Rowell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Clinton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Birkbeck
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Lane
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • De Witt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • Maroa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Warrensburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Niantic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Bearsdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Forsyth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Harristown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Argenta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Oreana
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Decatur
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • San Jose
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Natrona
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Mason City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Teheran
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Manito
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Easton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Union
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Forest City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • McLean
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Stanford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Heyworth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Shirley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Danvers
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Danvers is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
      • Danvers has also been known as:
      • Danver
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
    • Bloomington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Gillum
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Downs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Yuton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Brokaw
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Normal
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Carlock
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • Croft
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Greenview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Athens
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • Buffalo Hart
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Williamsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Illiopolis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Buffalo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Dawson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Spaulding
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Mechanicsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Cantrall
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Sherman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Riverton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • Armington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Burt
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Richmond
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Boynton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Mindale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Minier
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Brownwood ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
    • Hopedale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Delavan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Tazewell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lawndale, with the one closest to Lawndale listed first.
    • Congerville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Goodfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Lawndale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lawndale.

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 Lawndale - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Lawndale Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Howser Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Carlock Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Bluegrass Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Atlanta Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Berryhill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Jolly Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Nitlick Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Skelton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Reed Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (286 more) ...
    • Thompson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Perry Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Roach Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Lawndale had a population of 170 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Atlanta
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Mountjoy
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Mountjoy is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountjoy
  • Bell
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Bell is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
  • Skelton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Skelton is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skelton
  • Lincoln
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Beason
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Armington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Chestervale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Chestervale is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
  • Waynesville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • McLean
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Hartsburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Midland City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Midland City is located in De Witt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Burton View
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Burton View is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton View
    • Hallsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Chestnut
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Lawndale ...

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 159 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lawndale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lawndale, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lawndale.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Lawndale:

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 Lawndale, 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' (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- Lawndale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.