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 Mackinaw Dells (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 Mackinaw Dells. 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 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.
Mackinaw Dells is located in Woodford 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 Woodford County: La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Peoria & Tazewell.
Below are the counties that are near Mackinaw Dells. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mackinaw Dells:
- Woodford County (The home county of Mackinaw Dells)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Congerville
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Goodfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Eureka
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Secor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kappa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Kappa is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Roanoke
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- El Paso
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Metamora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Panola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Benson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Germantown Hills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woodford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Woodford is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Bay View Gardens
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
- De Witt County
- Waynesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Rutland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leeds is located in La Salle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Flanagan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Graymont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Atlanta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Emden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Evans
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Evans is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Lawndale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hartsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- La Rose
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Toluca
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hopewell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hopewell is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Varna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Evans ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Evans is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Lacon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sparland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Wenona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mason County
- San Jose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Carlock
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Danvers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Yuton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Yuton is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
- Hudson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stanford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Normal
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Towanda
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Shirley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gridley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Brokaw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brokaw is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
- McLean
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gillum
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gillum is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Peoria Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- North Peoria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- North Peoria is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
- Peoria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Keller
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- West Peoria
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Mossville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rome
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bartonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bellevue is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
- Pottstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Pottstown is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
- Chillicothe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Orange Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Maxwell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Maxwell is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Deer Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lilly
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lilly is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Allentown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Allentown is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
- Mackinaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mackinaw is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackinaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
- Former name for Mackinaw:
- Mackinawtown
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mackinaw <1>
- Cooper
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Mayfair
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mayfair is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfair
- Washington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tazewell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Walnut
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Morton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Minier
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Beverly Manor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Beverly Manor is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly Manor
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mackinaw Dells, see our County-by-County Page for Mackinaw Dells.
Cemeteries Near Mackinaw Dells ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mackinaw Dells.
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 Mackinaw Dells - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mackinaw Dells covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Dells Apostolic Christian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Imhoff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Maurer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Allison Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stumbaugh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hardscrabble Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mennonite Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- North Danvers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wintz Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- White Oak Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (305 more) ...
- Lilly Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Mackinaw Dells in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mackinaw Dells.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mackinaw Dells, with the one closest to Mackinaw Dells listed first.
- Congerville
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Goodfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Carlock
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Deer Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lilly
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lilly is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Eureka
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Danvers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Cruger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cruger is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruger
- Allentown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Allentown is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
- Secor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cooper
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Yuton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Yuton is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Washington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Crandall ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Crandall is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall
- Twin Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Twin Grove is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mackinaw Dells. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mackinaw Dells.
Newspapers Published in Mackinaw Dells ...
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 219 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mackinaw Dells.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mackinaw Dells, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mackinaw Dells.
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 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 Mackinaw Dells:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Woodford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- De Witt County
- La Salle County
- Livingston County
- Logan County
- Marshall County
- Mason County
- McLean County
- Peoria County
- Tazewell 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> | 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 Mackinaw Dells, 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- Mackinaw Dells) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |