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 Loda (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 Loda. 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 hospitals and 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.
Loda is located in Iroquois 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 Iroquois County: Ford, Kankakee, Vermilion, Benton (IN) & Newton (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Loda. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Loda:
- Iroquois County (The home county of Loda)
- The following are listed by their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Buckley
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cissna Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Del Rey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
- Thawville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Claytonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ridgeville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Onarga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Goodwine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Woodworth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Woodworth is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodworth
- Gilman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- La Hogue
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- La Hogue is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Hogue
- Schwer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Schwer is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schwer
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Ludlow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gifford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Rantoul
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Prospect
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Prospect is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
- Penfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dewey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Flatville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Flatville is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatville
- Thomasboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fisher
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Foosland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Royal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lotus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lotus is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Paxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Roberts
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Melvin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elliott
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Garber
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Garber is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
- Gibson City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gibson City is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,275 people
- Gibson City has also been known as:
- Gibson
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson City <1>
- Sibley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Piper City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Proctor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Proctor is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
- Kempton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Chatsworth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Strawn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Charlotte
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Charlotte is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
- Forrest
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Cullom
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wing is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wing
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Avoca is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Cropsey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Anchor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Saybrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bellflower
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Laurette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Laurette is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurette
- Colfax
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Glen Avon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Avon is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
- Arrowsmith
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kumler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kumler is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kumler
- Piatt County
- Mansfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Rankin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- East Lynn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Armstrong
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Potomac
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hoopeston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rossville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Collison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Henning
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Coalton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Coalton is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
- Alvin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alvin is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 246 people
- Alvin has also been known as:
- Alvan Village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alvin <1>
- Newtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newtown is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Bismarck
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Benton County (IN)
- Ambia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ambia is located in Benton County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Loda, see our County-by-County Page for Loda.
Cemeteries Near Loda ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Loda.
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 Loda - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Loda covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Pine Ridge Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Glen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pells Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Meharry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Prospect Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ten Mile Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hall Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Trickle Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Huffman Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (182 more) ...
- Pellville Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Harwood Chapel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood Chapel Cemetery
- The Harwood Chapel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Webber Cemetery
- Lisk Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Loda had a population of 598 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Loda had a population of 396 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Loda, with the one closest to Loda listed first.
- Paxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Buckley
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clarence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clarence is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarence
- Roberts
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ludlow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Melvin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elliott
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Rankin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cissna Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Thawville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Del Rey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Del Rey is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rey
- Dillsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dillsburg is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillsburg
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Claytonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ridgeville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ridgeville is located in Iroquois County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Guthrie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Guthrie is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guthrie
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Loda. See our List of 1890's Communities around Loda.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Loda ...
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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Loda.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Loda. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Loda and those printed in the larger area surrounding Loda.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Loda.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Loda:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Iroquois County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Ford County
- Livingston County
- McLean County
- Piatt County
- Vermilion County
- Benton 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 Loda, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Loda) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |