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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 Parkersburg (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 Parkersburg. 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.

Parkersburg is located in Richland 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 Richland County: Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Jasper, Lawrence, Wabash & Wayne.

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

  • Richland County     (The home county of Parkersburg)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Calhoun
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Berryville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Berryville is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Gallagher
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Wynoose
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Olney
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Olney is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <1>
    • Claremont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Noble
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Amity
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Amity is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
    • Dundas
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Passport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Wakefield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Camp Travis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Sailor Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ingraham
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Flora
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Louisville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Kenner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Landes
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Landes is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
    • Green Brier
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Green Brier is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
    • Hardinville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hardinville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
    • Villas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Villas is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villas
    • Oil Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Oil Center is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
    • Oblong
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Flat Rock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oil Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Oil Grove is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Grove
    • New Hebron
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • New Hebron is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
    • Stoy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoy is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stoy <1>
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Marion
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Maple Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • West Salem
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • West Salem is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
    • Bennington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
    • Bone Gap
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Albion
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Browns
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Red Top
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Red Top is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
    • Ellery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • West Liberty
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • West Liberty is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
    • Sainte Marie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bogota
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bogota is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
    • Newton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Willow Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Helena
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Helena is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Petersburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Sumner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Bridgeport
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Billett
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Billett is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
    • Saint Francisville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Lawrenceville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Birds
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wabash County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Lancaster
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Lancaster is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
    • Orio
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Orio is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orio
    • Bellmont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Adams Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Adams Corner is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
    • Patton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Patton is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
    • Allendale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Keensburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Carmel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Mount Erie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Enterprise
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Golden Gate
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Geff
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jeffersonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Cisne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Rinard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Barnhill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Boyleston
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Johnsonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Sims
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Grayville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Calvin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Calvin is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
    • Mill Shoals
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Crossville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Phillipstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Phillipstown is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
  • Gibson County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Hazleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Patoka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Patoka is located in Gibson County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 784 people
    • Owensville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Princeton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Knox County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Beal
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Beal is located in Knox County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal
    • Decker
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Decker is located in Knox County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
    • Vincennes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Posey County (IN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Parkersburg, with the one closest to Parkersburg listed first.
    • Griffin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Griffin is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
    • Barrett
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Barrett is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Stewartsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Stewartsville is located in Posey County (IN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville

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

Cemeteries Near Parkersburg ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Parkersburg.

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

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

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

  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Marion Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ridgely Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Walnut Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Calhoun Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Richland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Greathouse Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (415 more) ...

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Parkersburg had a population of 196 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Parkersburg had a population of 201 people.

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

  • Maple Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
  • Calhoun
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • West Salem
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • West Salem is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
  • Samsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Samsville is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samsville
  • Berryville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Berryville is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
  • Gallagher
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Gallagher is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
  • Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
  • Wynoose
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Wynoose is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
  • Claremont
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Olney
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Olney is located in Richland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,667 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olney <1>
  • Mount Erie
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Bone Gap
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Gards Point
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gards Point is located in Wabash County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gards Point
    • Noble
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Petersburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Parkersburg ...

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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Parkersburg.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Parkersburg, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Parkersburg.

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 Parkersburg:

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 Parkersburg, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Parkersburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.