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 Middletown (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 Middletown. 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.
Middletown is located in Logan 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 Logan County: De Witt, Macon, Mason, McLean, Menard, Sangamon & Tazewell.
Below are the counties that are near Middletown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Middletown:
- Logan County (The home county of Middletown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- New Holland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Broadwell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Broadwell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Lincoln
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
- Hartsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chestervale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Chestervale is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
- Emden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Evans
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Evans is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Cornland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Fork
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pulaski
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lawndale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Newmansville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Newmansville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
- Ashland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sylvan ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sylvan is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Gurney ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gurney is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
- Chandlerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Philadelphia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Bolivia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bolivia is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
- Mount Auburn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- De Witt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Midland City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Midland City is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
- Tabor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Tabor is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Hallsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hallsville is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Kenney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Waynesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rowell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rowell is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
- Fulton County
- Liverpool
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Niantic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Warrensburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Mason City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Natrona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Natrona is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Teheran
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Teheran is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
- San Jose
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Easton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Poplar City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Forest City is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Kilbourne
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Topeka
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Union
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Manito
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Long Branch
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Long Branch is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Buzzville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Buzzville is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
- McLean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- McLean
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stanford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Menard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Croft
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Croft is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
- Greenview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Athens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Petersburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oakford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tallula
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan County
- Prentice
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Prentice is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
- Sangamon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Williamsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cantrall
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sherman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Buffalo Hart
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
- Spaulding
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
- Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
- Riverton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dawson
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ridgely
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
- Salisbury
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Clear Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Grandview
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Grandview is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
- Buffalo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hawthorne Place
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Winkel ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Winkel is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
- Delavan
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Boynton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Boynton is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Burt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Burt is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
- Brownwood ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
- Green Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Richmond
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Armington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hopedale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sutter ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sutter is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Mindale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mindale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
- Dillon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Dillon is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
- Fravert ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fravert is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Middletown, see our County-by-County Page for Middletown.
Cemeteries Near Middletown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Middletown.
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 Middletown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Middletown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- Irish Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Walnut Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Barnes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Evans Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lucas Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Swing Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Richmond Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sugar Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Goldsmith Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pool Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stephen's Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (294 more) ...
- Walnut Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Elkhart Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Latham Thompson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
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 Middletown had a population of 350 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Middletown had a population of 301 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Middletown, with the one closest to Middletown listed first.
- New Holland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sweet Water
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sweet Water is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
- Fancy Prairie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fancy Prairie is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Prairie
- Elkhart
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Burton View
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Burton View is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton View
- Greenview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Broadwell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Broadwell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Mason City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Curtis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Curtis is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Williamsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Natrona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Natrona is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Athens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Cantrall
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lincoln
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Middletown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Middletown.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Middletown ...
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 195 newspapers that have been published in the area around Middletown.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Middletown. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Middletown and those printed in the larger area surrounding Middletown.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4> of Middletown.
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 Middletown:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Logan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Christian County
- De Witt County
- Fulton County
- Macon County
- Mason County
- McLean County
- Menard County
- Morgan County
- Sangamon 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> | 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 Middletown, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Middletown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |