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 Opdyke (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 Opdyke. 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 and 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.
Opdyke is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Perry, Washington & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Opdyke. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Opdyke:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Opdyke)
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Belle Rive
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marlow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Bluford
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Markham City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Markham City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
- Summersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Summersville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
- Mount Vernon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bonnie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pigeon ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Ina
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Marcoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Idlewood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
- Dareville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Nason
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Xenia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Kenner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kenner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
- Clinton County
- Centralia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Frisco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Taylor Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Ewing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Whittington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Akin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Benton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Steel City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Sesser
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rend City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Hanaford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- West City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Smothersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Valier
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Dahlgren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lovilla
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Belle Prairie City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Piopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Macedonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Flint
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Diamond City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Bungay
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bungay is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
- Dale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Broughton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Hickory Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Kell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Union Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Union Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
- Cartter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cartter is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
- Walnut Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Iuka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bannister
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Salem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Central City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Central City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
- Junction City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Junction City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Odin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Omega
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Omega is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Sandoval
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Tamaroa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sunfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Du Quoin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Cornerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Radom
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Ashley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Richview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Baldwin Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Irvington
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Du Bois
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Wamac
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wamac is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
- Hoyleton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Posen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Keenes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sims
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boyleston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- Johnsonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Barnhill
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fairfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Geff
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jeffersonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
- Cisne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rinard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Enterprise
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Enterprise is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Mill Shoals
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Springerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Enfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Burnt Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Freeman Spur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Corinth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Stiritz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Opdyke, see our County-by-County Page for Opdyke.
Cemeteries Near Opdyke ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Opdyke.
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 Opdyke - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Opdyke covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Opdyke Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Richardson Farm Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Warren Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hams Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rentchler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Flint Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Old Orchard Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shelton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Arnold Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- New Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meddows Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (450 more) ...
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wall Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Etheridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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 Opdyke had a population of 150 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Opdyke, with the one closest to Opdyke listed first.
- Belle Rive
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marlow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Bluford
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Garden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Garden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Dahlgren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Vernon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Keenes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pigeon ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Taylor Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Idlewood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
- Ewing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Delafield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Delafield is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delafield
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Wayne City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Drivers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Drivers is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drivers
- Piopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Opdyke. See our List of 1890's Communities around Opdyke.
Newspapers Published in Opdyke ...
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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Opdyke.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Opdyke, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Opdyke.
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 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 Opdyke:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Clinton County
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Saline County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson 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 Opdyke, 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' (or 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- Opdyke) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |