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 Monmouth (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 Monmouth. 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.
Name Variations for Monmouth ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
In past government published Postal Guides, Monmouth was referred to as Monmouth Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Monmouth. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Monmouth.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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.
Monmouth is located in Warren County and is the County Seat.
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 Warren County: Fulton, Henderson, Knox, McDonough & Mercer.
Below are the counties that are near Monmouth. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Monmouth:
- Warren County (The home county of Monmouth)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Gerlaw
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Eleanor
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Cameron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kirkwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Surrey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Little York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Utah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Berwick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Smithshire
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shanghai City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Roseville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Youngstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Avon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- London Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ellisville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Babylon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Babylon is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
- Checkrow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Checkrow is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
- Blyton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blyton is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyton
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Disco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Disco is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Disco
- La Harpe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- La Harpe is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Harpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,123 people
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Rozetta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Rozetta is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rozetta
- Biggsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Media
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Milroy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Milroy is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Gladstone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Oquawka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Olena
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Olena is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olena
- Raritan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Stronghurst
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Carman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Terre Haute
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Terre Haute is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Haute
- Gulf Port
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Gulf Port is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Port
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Iowa Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Iowa Junction is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa Junction
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Alpha
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Woodhull
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ophiem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ophiem is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophiem
- Lynn Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Galesburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Henderson Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Henderson Grove is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Grove
- Abingdon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Galesburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- East Galesburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- De Long
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- Knoxville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Rio
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Augustine
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Knox
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Wataga
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Gilson
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oneida
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Prairie City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie City is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Good Hope
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bushnell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sciota
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Blandinsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bardolph
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lamone Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- Macomb
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- New Philadelphia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Alexis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Norwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Norwood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Burgess
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Burgess is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- North Henderson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sunbeam
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Sunbeam is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunbeam
- Seaton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Keithsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Aledo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gilchrist is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilchrist
- Viola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Shale City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Shale City is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shale City
- New Windsor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Windsor
- Windsor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Windsor is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 760 people
- Rock Island County
- Reynolds
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Des Moines County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Kingston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kingston is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Burlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mediapolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sperry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sperry is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sperry
- Patterson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Patterson is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Dodgeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dodgeville is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodgeville
- West Burlington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Kline
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kline is located in Des Moines County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Louisa County (IA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Oakville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elrick Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elrick Junction is located in Louisa County (IA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elrick Junction
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Monmouth, see our County-by-County Page for Monmouth.
Cemeteries Near Monmouth ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Monmouth.
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 Monmouth - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Monmouth covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Monmouth City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Warren County Memorial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Patterson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sugar Tree Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Point Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- County Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ogden Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mosher Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gerlaw Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Center Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (320 more) ...
- Spring Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Spring Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lenox Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Monmouth had a population of 5,936 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Monmouth had a population of 8,801 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Monmouth, with the one closest to Monmouth listed first.
- Ormonde
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ormonde is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormonde
- Phelps
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Phelps is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps
- Eleanor
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
- Gerlaw
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Kirkwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Larchland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Larchland is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larchland
- Cameron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Coldbrook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Coldbrook is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldbrook
- Ponemah
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ponemah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponemah
- Surrey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Little York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Berwick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Utah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Smithshire
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ellison ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ellison is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Monmouth. See our List of 1890's Communities around Monmouth.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Monmouth ...
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 131 newspapers that have been published in the area around Monmouth.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Monmouth. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Monmouth and those printed in the larger area surrounding Monmouth.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Monmouth.
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 helpful 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 Monmouth:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Warren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fulton County
- Hancock County
- Henderson County
- Henry County
- Knox County
- McDonough County
- Mercer County
- Rock Island County
- Des Moines County
- Louisa 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 Monmouth, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Monmouth) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |