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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 Padua (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 Padua. 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 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 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.

Padua is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of Padua)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Ellsworth
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Merna
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Arrowsmith
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cooksville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Le Roy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Downs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Gillum
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Brokaw
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Towanda
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Colfax
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Glen Avon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Glen Avon is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
    • Bloomington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Foosland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Lotus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Lotus is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
    • Fisher
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Fisher is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,911 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fisher <1>
    • Dewey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Lake of the Woods
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake of the Woods is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake of the Woods
    • Mahomet
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Seymour
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Prospect
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Prospect is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Watkins
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Parnell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Farmer City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fullerton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • De Witt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Wapella
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Birkbeck
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Weldon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Lane
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Clinton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Waynesville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Hallsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
  • Ford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Proctor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Proctor is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
    • Garber
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Garber is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
    • Gibson City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Gibson City is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,275 people
      • Gibson City has also been known as:
      • Gibson
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson City <1>
    • Sibley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Elliott
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Melvin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Strawn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairbury
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • McDowell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • McDowell is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
    • Avoca ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Avoca is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
    • Forrest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Flanagan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Graymont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Pontiac
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Pontiac is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,176 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pontiac <1>
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Beason
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Macon County
    • Maroa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Mansfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • De Land
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • White Heath
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cisco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Monticello
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Lilly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Minier
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Armington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Tazewell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Padua, with the one closest to Padua listed first.
    • Kappa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • El Paso
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Congerville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Secor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford

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

Cemeteries Near Padua ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Padua.

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

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

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

  • Frankeberger Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Benjaminville Friends Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Lebo Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Dawson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Barnes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Blue Mound Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Arrowsmith Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Merna Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Bishop Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Gilmore Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (226 more) ...
    • Oak Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Howard Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Payne Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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 Padua had a population of 75 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Ellsworth
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Holder
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Holder is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holder
  • Fletcher
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Fletcher is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
  • Merna
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Arrowsmith
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Cooksville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Gillum
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Gillum is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
  • Downs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Le Roy
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Brokaw
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Brokaw is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
  • Barnes
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Barnes is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
  • Sabina
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sabina is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabina
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Empire
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Empire is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
    • Towanda
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Hendrix
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Hendrix is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix

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

Newspapers Published in Padua ...

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 305 newspapers that have been published in the area around Padua.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Padua, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Padua.

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 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 Padua:

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 Padua, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Padua) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.