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 Olin (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 Olin. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Olin is located in Peoria 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 Peoria County: Fulton, Knox, Marshall, Stark, Tazewell & Woodford.
Below are the counties that are near Olin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Olin:
- Peoria County (The home county of Olin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Edwards
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hanna City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Norwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Norwood is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
- Orange Prairie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Maxwell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maxwell is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Bellevue
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bellevue is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
- Pottstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pottstown is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
- Trivoli
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Keller
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- Dunlap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brimfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- West Peoria
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Farmington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Breeds
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Breeds is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
- Brereton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brereton is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
- Norris
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Banner
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Canton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dunfermline
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saint David
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bybee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bybee is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
- Fiatt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bryant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Yates City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Williamsfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maquon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Dahinda
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gilson
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Appleton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Appleton is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Victoria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Knox
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- De Long
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- Knoxville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Hopewell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hopewell is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
- Camp Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sparland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lacon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Manito
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Union
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Union is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Forest City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Forest City is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Goofy Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
- Buzzville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buzzville is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
- Topeka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Stark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Speer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- West Jersey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Jersey is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
- Wyoming
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Toulon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Castleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Modena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Modena is located in Stark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
- La Fayette
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bradford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Creve Coeur
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Creve Coeur is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creve Coeur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,109 people
- Former name for Creve Coeur:
- Wesley City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Creve Coeur <1>
- East Peoria
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Peoria is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peoria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,344 people
- Former name for East Peoria:
- Hilton
- Wesley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wesley is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Marquette Heights
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marquette Heights is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquette Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,617 people
- North Pekin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Pekin is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pekin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
- Former name for North Pekin:
- Radio City
- Trailpark Gardens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Trailpark Gardens is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailpark Gardens
- Highway Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Highway Village is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highway Village
- Robein
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Robein is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robein
- Sunnyland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Farmdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Farmdale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmdale
- Pekin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Caldwell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Caldwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caldwell
- Woodford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Bay View Gardens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
- Spring Bay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
- Germantown Hills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Metamora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Eureka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Goodfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Washburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Roanoke
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Congerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Olin, see our County-by-County Page for Olin.
Cemeteries Near Olin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Olin.
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 Olin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Olin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Brown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Cottonwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Combs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Patrick's Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jubilee Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cameron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Christ Episcopal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Koerner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Texas Station Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Swan Lake Memory Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (334 more) ...
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Smithville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Perria County Farm Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
While we didn't find Olin in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Olin.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Olin, with the one closest to Olin listed first.
- Kramm
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Kramm is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kramm
- Edwards
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hanna City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Eden
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Eden is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Maxwell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maxwell is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Orange Prairie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hill is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Smithville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Smithville is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
- Pottstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pottstown is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
- Trivoli
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kickapoo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kickapoo is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kickapoo
- Keller
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Keller is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keller
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Alta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dunlap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brimfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Olin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Olin.
Newspapers Published in Olin ...
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 279 newspapers that have been published in the area around Olin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Olin, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Olin.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Olin:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Peoria County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fulton County
- Knox County
- Marshall County
- Mason County
- Stark County
- Tazewell County
- Woodford 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> | 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 Olin, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Olin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |