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 Layfield (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 Layfield. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Layfield is located in Perry 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 Perry County: Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Randolph & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Layfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Layfield:
- Perry County (The home county of Layfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Pinckneyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Winkle
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Conant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Pyatts
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Cutler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Sunfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Saint Johns
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Willisville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Du Quoin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- New Memphis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bartelso
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Damiansville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Damiansville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damiansville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 484 people
- Posey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Posey is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Mulkeytown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sesser
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Coello
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- North City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- North City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Valier
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Christopher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Royalton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Buckner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rend City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Zeigler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- West City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Cambon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cambon is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambon
- Plumfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Plumfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumfield
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Campbell Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ava
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Vergennes
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Dowell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oraville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Elkville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hallidayboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Degognia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- De Soto
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Murphysboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Jacob
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Gorham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Carbondale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Scheller
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Emerson City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Waltonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Roaches
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Dareville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Nason
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Marcoe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Jefferson City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Bonnie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ina
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Coulterville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Percy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Steeleville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sparta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Tilden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Blair
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Leanderville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Leanderville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanderville
- Welge
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- Bremen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Houston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Houston is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston
- Baldwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Palestine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Marissa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Libory
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lenzburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fayetteville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fayetteville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- New Athens
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Athens is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Athens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,865 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Oakdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Posen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Du Bois
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Elkton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Nashville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Clarmin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Radom
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Caspars
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- Addieville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Stone Church
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stone Church is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church
- Ashley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Minden
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- New Minden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Okawville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Bush
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Hurst
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Blairsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Cambria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colp
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Dewmaine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dewmaine is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewmaine
- Freeman Spur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Carterville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Herrin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- McBride
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- McBride is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- Lithium
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Layfield, see our County-by-County Page for Layfield.
Cemeteries Near Layfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Layfield.
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 Layfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Layfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Mueller Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hopewell Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Bruno Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Galum Baptist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Galum Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Galum Presbyterian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Dry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Holts Prairie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Campbell Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (362 more) ...
- Concord Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pilot Knob Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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 Layfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Layfield.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Layfield, with the one closest to Layfield listed first.
- Pinckneyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Conant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Pyatts
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Denny
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Denny is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denny
- Swanwick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Swanwick is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swanwick
- Cutler
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Kampenville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kampenville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kampenville
- Coulterville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Percy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Johns
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Sunfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Grubbs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Grubbs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grubbs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Layfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Layfield.
Newspapers Published in Layfield ...
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 140 newspapers that have been published in the area around Layfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Layfield, 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 Layfield.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Layfield:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Perry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Franklin County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Washington County
- Williamson County
- Perry 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 Layfield, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Layfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |