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 Merritt (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 Merritt. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Merritt is located in Scott 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 Scott County: Greene, Morgan & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Merritt. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Merritt:
- Scott County (The home county of Merritt)
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Exeter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Winchester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bluffs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oxville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Alsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Naples
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Glasgow
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Glasgow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Manchester
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Brown County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Versailles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cooperstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Gilbirds
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Hersman
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Ripley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ripley is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Mount Sterling
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Cliffdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cliffdale is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffdale
- Kampsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Arenzville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hagener
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Old Princeton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Old Princeton is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
- Bluff Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Burlingame
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Burlingame is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Jules
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Virginia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Beardstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Philadelphia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Gurney ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Gurney is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
- Ashland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Patterson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Roodhouse
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wilmington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wilmington is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Hillview
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- White Hall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Belltown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Belltown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
- Walkerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Walkerville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
- Wrights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Greenfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Carrollton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Eldred
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Macoupin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Scottville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Modesto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Palmyra
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mason County
- Snicarte
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- Menard County
- Tallula
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Chapin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Lynnville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
- Concord
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- South Jacksonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
- Jacksonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Meredosia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woodson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arcadia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Arcadia is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Murrayville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Arnold
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Arnold is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Literberry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Florence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Florence is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Valley City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Chambersburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Detroit
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Detroit is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Milton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Griggsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Perry
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Time
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Time is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Time
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Pearl
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Salem is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Pittsfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sangamon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Maxwell ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- New Berlin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Berlin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Berlin is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Pleasant Plains
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Loami
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Frederick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Browning
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rushville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Merritt, see our County-by-County Page for Merritt.
Cemeteries Near Merritt ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Merritt.
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 Merritt - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Merritt covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Parks - Robinson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Gillham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hawk Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Campbell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Berry Farm Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Morgan City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Kincaid Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Allison Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Etheal Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Borum Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bean Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Overton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (543 more) ...
- Lynnville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Richardson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Liberty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
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 Merritt had a population of 142 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
- Riggston
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Riggston is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggston
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Chapin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lynnville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
- Bethel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bethel is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Exeter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Markham
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Markham is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Bluffs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Concord
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oxville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Alsey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jacksonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Naples
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Florence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Florence is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Glasgow
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Glasgow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Merritt. See our List of 1890's Communities around Merritt.
Newspapers Published in Merritt ...
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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Merritt.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Merritt, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Merritt.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Merritt:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Scott County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Brown County
- Calhoun County
- Cass County
- Greene County
- Macoupin County
- Mason County
- Menard County
- Morgan County
- Pike County
- Sangamon County
- Schuyler 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 Merritt, 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- Merritt) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |