RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Morgan County >> Nortonville >> 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 Nortonville (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 Nortonville. 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.

Nortonville is located in Morgan 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 Morgan County: Brown, Cass, Greene, Macoupin, Pike, Sangamon & Scott.

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

  • Morgan County     (The home county of Nortonville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Franklin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Murrayville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Pisgah
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Waverly
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • South Jacksonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
    • Arnold
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Arnold is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Jacksonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Alexander
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynnville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynnville is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
    • Arcadia
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Arcadia is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
    • Chapin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Literberry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Cliffdale
      (29 miles [46.7 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 southwest)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Old Princeton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
    • Ashland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Philadelphia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Burlingame
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Arenzville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Virginia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Jules
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Jules is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
    • Hagener
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hagener is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Roodhouse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Wrights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • White Hall
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Belltown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Patterson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Wilmington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Wilmington is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
    • Rockbridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Walkerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Walkerville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerville
    • Hillview
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Carrollton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Woody
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
  • Jersey County
    • Fidelity
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Scottville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Modesto
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Palmyra
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hettick
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Hagaman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Hagaman is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagaman
    • Girard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Virden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Comer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
    • Nilwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Chesterfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Challacombe
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Carlinville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Standard City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Standard City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
  • Menard County
    • Tallula
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Farmersville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Waggoner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • White Oak
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Bedford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Florence
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Florence is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
    • Pearl
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Milton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Bee Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bee Creek is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Creek
    • Detroit
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Detroit is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
    • Valley City
      (29 miles [46.7 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
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Lowder
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • New Berlin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Loami
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Berlin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Berlin is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
    • Thayer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Auburn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Pasfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Pasfield is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasfield
    • Curran
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Curran is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Chatham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Pleasant Plains
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Divernon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Glenarm
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Nortonville, with the one closest to Nortonville listed first.
    • Manchester
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Alsey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Winchester
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Glasgow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Glasgow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
    • Exeter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Exeter is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
    • Bluffs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Oxville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Oxville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
    • Naples
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Nortonville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Nortonville.

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

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

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

  • Youngblood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Henry Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Reed Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Sooy Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Whitlock Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Harts Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bull Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fanning Ollie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Robert Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Criswell George Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Providence Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (459 more) ...
    • Zion #1 Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Seymour Bird Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Zion Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)

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.<2>

While we didn't find Nortonville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Nortonville.

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

  • Scottville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Franklin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Woodson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Murrayville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Athensville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Athensville is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athensville
  • Pisgah
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Pisgah is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
  • Rohrer
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Rohrer is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rohrer
  • Modesto
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Waverly
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Manchester
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Arnold
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Arnold is located in Morgan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
  • Palmyra
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Orleans
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Orleans is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
    • Jacksonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Maxwell ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell

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

Newspapers Published in Nortonville ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Nortonville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Nortonville, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Nortonville.

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 websites either 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 Nortonville:

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>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 Nortonville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Nortonville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.