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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 Macoupin (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 Macoupin. 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 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 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.

Macoupin is located in Macoupin 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 Macoupin County: Greene, Jersey, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan & Sangamon.

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

  • Macoupin County     (The home county of Macoupin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Plainview
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Comer
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Carlinville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Chesterfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Royal Lakes
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Royal Lakes is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
      • Royal Lakes has also been known as:
      • Royal Lakes village
    • Shipman
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Challacombe
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Hagaman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Dorchester
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
    • East Gillespie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Gillespie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Summerville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Summerville is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Sorento
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Reno
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Old Ripley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
  • Christian County
    • Morrisonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Rockbridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Greenfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Wrights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Kane
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Carrollton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Belltown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • White Hall
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Woody
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
    • Roodhouse
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Fidelity
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Delhi
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • Jerseyville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • McClusky
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • McClusky is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
    • Dow
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Otterville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Otterville is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Elsah
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Chautauqua
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Chautauqua is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
    • Fieldon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Grafton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Dorsey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Williamson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Livingston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Moro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Worden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Bethalto
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Cottage Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Cottage Hills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Hills
    • New Douglas
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Belmont Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Belmont Village is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont Village
    • Godfrey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamel
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Litchfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Honey Bend
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Shop Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Waggoner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Walshville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Raymond
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Butler
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Farmersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Harvel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillsboro
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Taylor Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Panama
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Waverly
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Franklin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Murrayville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • Lowder
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Thayer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Auburn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Divernon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Scott County
    • Manchester
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Saint Charles County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Macoupin, with the one closest to Macoupin listed first.
    • West Alton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • West Alton is located in Saint Charles County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 529 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Alton <1>
    • Portage Des Sioux
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Macoupin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Macoupin.

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

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

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

  • Brayford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Hacke Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Waggoner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Combes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Armour Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Morrison Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Sell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Emerick Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Hillyard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Behme Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Old Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lumpkin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (402 more) ...
    • Smith - Kirby Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Wheeler Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Shiloh Baptist Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Macoupin had a population of 20 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Plainview
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Comer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Comer is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
  • Enos
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Enos is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enos
  • Carlinville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Chesterfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Reader
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Reader is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reader
  • Shipman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Challacombe
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
  • Dorchester
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
  • Gillespie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Hagaman
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
  • Medora
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Hettick
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Anderson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Anderson is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
    • Fidelity
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Macoupin ...

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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Macoupin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Macoupin, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Macoupin.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Macoupin:

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 Macoupin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Macoupin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.