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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 Pittsburg (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 Pittsburg. 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.

Pittsburg is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Bond, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Marion, Montgomery & Shelby.

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

  • Fayette County     (The home county of Pittsburg)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Hagarstown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Shobonier
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Vandalia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bluff City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Saint Paul
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Bayle City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Bingham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Brownstown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Avena
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Loogootee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Saint Peter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Ramsey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Mulberry Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant Mound
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
    • Smithboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Greenville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Reno
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
    • Pocahontas
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Old Ripley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Sorento
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pierron
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Keyesport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Boulder
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Marydale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Marydale is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
    • Huey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Huey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
    • Carlyle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Beckemeyer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Rose
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
    • Centralia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Hoffman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Posey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Posey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
    • Breese
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bartelso
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Aviston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Gilmore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Altamont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Edgewood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Moccasin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
  • Macoupin County
    • Mount Olive
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Sebastopol
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Sebastopol is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Grantfork
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Grantfork is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
    • New Douglas
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Highland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Alhambra
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Livingston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Williamson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Vernon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Patoka
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairman is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairman
    • Sandoval
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Alma
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Odin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Kinmundy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Junction City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Junction City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
    • Central City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
    • Salem
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bannister
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Omega
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Cartter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Chapman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Fillmore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Coffeen
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Donnellson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Panama
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Taylor Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Schram City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Hillsboro
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Irving
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Walshville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Witt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Witt is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Witt <1>
    • Coalton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Butler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Herrick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oconee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pittsburg, with the one closest to Pittsburg listed first.
    • Wamac
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Baldwin Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Hoyleton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Irvington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Pittsburg ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pittsburg.

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

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

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

  • Seminary Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Daniel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • McInturff Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Durham Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Noffsinger Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Collier Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Mulberry Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Seagraves Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Maxey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • St. Peters Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (414 more) ...
    • Bear Creek Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Thorp Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Farmer Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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 in 1895, Pittsburg had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Mulberry Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Mound
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
  • Hagarstown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Hookdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hookdale is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hookdale
  • Shobonier
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Smithboro
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Tamalco
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Tamalco is located in Bond County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tamalco
  • Vernon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Keyesport
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Vandalia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Patoka
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (20 more) ...
    • Dudleyville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Dudleyville is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudleyville
    • Beaver Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Beaver Creek is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
    • Boulder
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder

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

Newspapers Published in Pittsburg ...

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 143 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pittsburg.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pittsburg, 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 Pittsburg.

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 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 Pittsburg:

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