RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> McLean County >> McLean >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 McLean (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 McLean. 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 and doctors 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.

McLean is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of McLean)
    • The following are listed by their distance from McLean, with the one closest to McLean listed first.
    • Stanford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Shirley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Heyworth
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Danvers
      (14 miles [22.5 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
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Downs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Gillum
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Yuton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Brokaw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Normal
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Carlock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Le Roy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McLean, with the one closest to McLean listed first.
    • Waynesville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Tabor
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Midland City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Hallsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Wapella
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenney
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Clinton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Birkbeck
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Rowell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Lane
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • De Witt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McLean, with the one closest to McLean listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawndale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Beason
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Evans
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Bell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Hartsburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Lincoln
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Emden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Chestervale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Chestnut
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Broadwell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McLean, with the one closest to McLean listed first.
    • Maroa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Warrensburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Argenta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Forsyth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bearsdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Oreana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McLean, with the one closest to McLean listed first.
    • San Jose
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Natrona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Mason City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Menard County
    • Croft
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
  • Piatt County
    • De Land
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McLean, with the one closest to McLean listed first.
    • Armington
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Burt
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Richmond
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Minier
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Mindale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Hopedale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Tazewell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Boynton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Walnut
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Brownwood ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from McLean, with the one closest to McLean listed first.
    • Congerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Goodfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Kappa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Eureka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Secor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • El Paso
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near McLean ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McLean.

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

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

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

  • McLean - Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Old Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Brock Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Roach Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Funks Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Longsworth Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Big Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Fremont Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Atlanta Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (267 more) ...
    • Brooks Grove Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hieronymous 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that McLean had a population of 500 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, McLean had a population of 790 people.

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

  • Atlanta
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Funks Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Funks Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funks Grove
  • Waynesville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Mountjoy
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Mountjoy is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountjoy
  • Armington
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Lawndale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Stanford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Shirley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Covell
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Covell is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covell
  • Heyworth
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Randolph
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Randolph is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
  • Beason
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Midland City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Minier
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Skelton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Skelton is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skelton

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of McLean ...

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 229 newspapers that have been published in the area around McLean.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of McLean. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of McLean and those printed in the larger area surrounding McLean.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of McLean.

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 professional and volunteer 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 McLean:

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