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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 Monticello (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 Monticello. 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 doctors 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.

Monticello is located in Piatt 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 Piatt County: Champaign, De Witt, Douglas, Macon, McLean & Moultrie.

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

  • Piatt County     (The home county of Monticello)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monticello, with the one closest to Monticello listed first.
    • White Heath
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • De Land
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Bement
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Cisco
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Milmine
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Voorhies
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
    • Mansfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Cerro Gordo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Atwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Burrowsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • Hammond
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Lintner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • La Place
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monticello, with the one closest to Monticello listed first.
    • Ivesdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Seymour
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sadorus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Bondville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Mahomet
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Staley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Staley is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
    • Tolono
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Tolono is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolono
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,349 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tolono <1>
    • Lake of the Woods
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake of the Woods is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake of the Woods
    • Savoy
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Savoy is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,364 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Savoy <1>
    • Pesotum
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Champaign
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Urbana
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Urbana is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 41,724 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Urbana <1>
    • Lotus
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Lotus is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monticello, with the one closest to Monticello listed first.
    • Weldon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Farmer City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • De Witt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Parnell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Lane
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Watkins
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Birkbeck
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Clinton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Wapella
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Rowell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Rowell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowell
    • Kenney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Hallsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monticello, with the one closest to Monticello listed first.
    • Chicken Bristle
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
    • Garrett
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Garrett is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
    • Ficklin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Ficklin is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
    • Hayes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hayes is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
    • Arthur
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Tuscola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Chesterville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Chesterville is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
    • Villa Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
    • Camargo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Patterson Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
    • Arcola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairland is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
    • Filson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Filson is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
  • Ford County
    • Proctor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Proctor is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monticello, with the one closest to Monticello listed first.
    • Argenta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Oreana
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sangamon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Sangamon is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
    • Casner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Casner is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
    • Maroa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Long Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Long Creek is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
    • Forsyth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Decatur
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Zion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Hervey City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hervey City is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
    • Turpin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
    • Bearsdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Bearsdale is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearsdale
    • Warrensburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • McLean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monticello, with the one closest to Monticello listed first.
    • Kumler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Kumler is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kumler
    • Laurette
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Laurette is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurette
    • Bellflower
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Glen Avon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Glen Avon is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
    • Le Roy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Saybrook
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Arrowsmith
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Heyworth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ellsworth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Downs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Monticello, with the one closest to Monticello listed first.
    • Lake City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Lovington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Cadwell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
    • Dalton City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cushman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
    • Bethany
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Dunn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Sullivan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Monticello ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Monticello.

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

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

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

  • Monticello Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Monticello Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Haneline Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Woolington Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Marquiss Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bucks Pond Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Stringtown Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Camp Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Morain Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hughes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Madden Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (236 more) ...
    • Willow Branch Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bement Twp. Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Kentuck Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)

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 Monticello had a population of 1,643 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Monticello had a population of 5,557 people.

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

  • White Heath
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Lodge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Lodge is located in Piatt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodge
  • Bement
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • De Land
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Ivesdale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Galesville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Galesville is located in Piatt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galesville
  • Cisco
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Milmine
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Seymour
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Voorhies
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Voorhies is located in Piatt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
  • Weldon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Cerro Gordo
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (20 more) ...
    • Sadorus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Bondville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Mansfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Monticello ...

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 143 newspapers that have been published in the area around Monticello.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Monticello. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Monticello and those printed in the larger area surrounding Monticello.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4> of Monticello.

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 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 Monticello:

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 Monticello, 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 from Point A (ie- Monticello) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.