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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 Panama (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 Panama. 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.

Panama is primarily located in Montgomery County. A portion of Panama extends into Bond 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 Montgomery County: Bond, Christian, Fayette, Macoupin, Madison, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Montgomery County     (The home county of Panama)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • Donnellson
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Walshville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Taylor Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Coffeen
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Schram City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Hillsboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Butler
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Chapman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Litchfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Irving
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Fillmore
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Honey Bend
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Shop Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • Reno
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Sorento
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Old Ripley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Greenville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Smithboro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Pocahontas
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Mulberry Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Pierron
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • Morrisonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Palmer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • Saint Rose
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
    • Keyesport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Marydale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Aviston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Breese
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Boulder
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Beckemeyer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Carlyle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Trenton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • Bingham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Bayle City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Hagarstown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Vandalia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Ramsey
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Shobonier
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bluff City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Dressor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Brownstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Macoupin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • Mount Olive
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Lake Ka-ho
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Lake Ka-ho is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ka-ho
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
      • Lake Ka-ho has also been known as:
      • Lake Ka-Ho village
    • White City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • White City is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
    • Staunton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Hornsby
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hornsby is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
    • Benld
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Benld is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benld
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benld <1>
    • Eagarville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Sawyerville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Mount Clare
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Mount Clare is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clare
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
    • East Gillespie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Gillespie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Wilsonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Dorchester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • New Douglas
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Livingston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Williamson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Alhambra
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Grantfork
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Grantfork is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • Worden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Hamel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Highland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Marine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Prairietown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Sebastopol
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Sebastopol is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Fruit
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fruit is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruit
    • Dorsey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Panama, with the one closest to Panama listed first.
    • Vernon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Patoka
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Shelby County
    • Oconee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Panama ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Panama.

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

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

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

  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Rankin Presbyterian Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Donneilson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Sunny Side Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Elm Point Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Edwards Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Waveland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Kirkland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Tisdale Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Coyle Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (389 more) ...
    • Jett Number Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mansfield Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Clear Springs Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)

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>

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

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

  • Donnellson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Sorento
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Reno
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Reno is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Walshville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • New Douglas
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Coffeen
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Ripley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
  • Hillsboro
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Butler
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Mount Olive
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Stubblefield
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Stubblefield is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubblefield
  • Greenville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Chapman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Litchfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Smithboro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Panama ...

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 102 newspapers that have been published in the area around Panama.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Panama, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Panama.

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 helpful 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 Panama:

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