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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 Plainview (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 Plainview. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Plainview is located in Macoupin 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 Macoupin County: Greene, Jersey, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan & Sangamon.

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

  • Macoupin County     (The home county of Plainview)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Royal Lakes
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Royal Lakes is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Lakes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
      • Royal Lakes has also been known as:
      • Royal Lakes village
    • Shipman
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Chesterfield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Dorchester
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
    • Piasa
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Summerville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Summerville is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Challacombe
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
    • Bunker Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Miles Station
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Miles Station is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Station
    • Medora
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • East Gillespie
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
    • Comer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Comer is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
  • Bond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Sorento
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Old Ripley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Old Ripley is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Reno
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Reno is located in Bond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Rockbridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Kane
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Mid City ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Mid City is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid City
    • Wrights
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Carrollton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Belltown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Belltown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belltown
    • Woody
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Woody is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woody
    • White Hall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Roodhouse
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Jersey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Fidelity
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Delhi
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Delhi is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • Jerseyville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • McClusky
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • McClusky is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
    • Dow
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Otterville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Otterville is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Elsah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Chautauqua
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chautauqua is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
    • Grafton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Fieldon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Nutwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Nutwood is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
    • Spankey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Spankey is located in Jersey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spankey
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Dorsey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Prairietown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Prairietown is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
    • Moro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Williamson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bethalto
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Livingston
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Worden
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Cottage Hills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Cottage Hills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Hills
    • Belmont Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Belmont Village is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont Village
    • Godfrey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Rosewood Heights
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Rosewood Heights is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosewood Heights
    • Altamont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Litchfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Honey Bend
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
    • Walshville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Shop Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
    • Waggoner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Butler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Raymond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Panama
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Taylor Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Farmersville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillsboro
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Harvel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Morgan County
    • Waverly
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Lowder
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Thayer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Saint Charles County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • West Alton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • West Alton is located in Saint Charles County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 529 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Alton <1>
    • Portage Des Sioux
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Louis County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Black Jack
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Black Jack is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,921 people
    • Spanish Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Spanish Lake is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spanish Lake
    • Glasgow Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Glasgow Village is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow Village
    • Bellefontaine Neighbors
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bellefontaine Neighbors is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefontaine Neighbors
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,297 people
    • Castle Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Castle Point is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Point

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

Cemeteries Near Plainview ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plainview.

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

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

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

  • Combes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Waggoner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Hillyard Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Armour Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Shipman Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Denis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Morrison Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Brayford Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Centerville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Hacke Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Luken Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Clark Family Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (416 more) ...
    • Wheeler Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Piasa Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lumpkin Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Plainview had a population of 182 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Shipman
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Macoupin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Macoupin is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macoupin
  • Piasa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Dorchester
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
  • Chesterfield
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Miles Station
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Miles Station is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miles Station
  • Bunker Hill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Challacombe
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Challacombe is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challacombe
  • Medora
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Gillespie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Comer
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Comer is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
  • Enos
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Enos is located in Macoupin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enos
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Fidelity
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Reader
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Reader is located in Macoupin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reader
    • Carlinville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Plainview ...

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 Plainview.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plainview, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Plainview.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Plainview:

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