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 Pleasant Plains (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 Pleasant Plains. 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.
Name Variations for Pleasant Plains ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Pleasant Plains: Pleasant Plns.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Pleasant Plains. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Pleasant Plains.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Pleasant Plains is located in Sangamon 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 Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.
Below are the counties that are near Pleasant Plains. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pleasant Plains:
- Sangamon County (The home county of Pleasant Plains)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Salisbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Berlin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Berlin is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Pasfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pasfield is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasfield
- New Berlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Curran
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Curran is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curran
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Cantrall
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Loami
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jerome
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jerome is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,575 people
- Leland Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Leland Grove is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,451 people
- Ridgely
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
- Maxwell ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Maxwell is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Hawthorne Place
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Ashland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Gurney ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gurney is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
- Newmansville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Newmansville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
- Philadelphia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Sylvan ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sylvan is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Old Princeton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Old Princeton is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
- Burlingame
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Burlingame is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Virginia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Chandlerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jules
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Arenzville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Bluff Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Fulton County
- Marbletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marbletown is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
- Logan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Middletown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Elkhart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cornland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- New Holland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Broadwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Broadwell is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Lake Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Macoupin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Virden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Modesto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Scottville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Girard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Palmyra
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- White City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- White City is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Kilbourne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Snicarte
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- Long Branch
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Long Branch is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Bath
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Easton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Poplar City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Teheran
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Teheran is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
- Mason City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Havana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Menard County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Tallula
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Petersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Athens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oakford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Greenview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Croft
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Croft is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Prentice
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Prentice is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
- Alexander
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Literberry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Arnold
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arnold is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Pisgah
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pisgah is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Arcadia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Arcadia is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Franklin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Waverly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jacksonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- South Jacksonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- South Jacksonville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jacksonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,075 people
- Woodson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Bluff City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Browning
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frederick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pleasant Plains, see our County-by-County Page for Pleasant Plains.
Cemeteries Near Pleasant Plains ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pleasant Plains.
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 Pleasant Plains - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pleasant Plains covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Pleasant Plains Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Irwin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Richland Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Harrison Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cogdal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ashland City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- White Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Flinn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (369 more) ...
- Smedly Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Salisbury Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Farmers Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Pleasant Plains had a population of 518 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Pleasant Plains had a population of 792 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pleasant Plains, with the one closest to Pleasant Plains listed first.
- Richland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Richland is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Tallula
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Loyd
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Loyd is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
- Ashland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Salisbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Prentice
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Prentice is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
- Farmingdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Farmingdale is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmingdale
- Gurney ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gurney is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
- Berlin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Berlin is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Pasfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pasfield is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasfield
- Hill Top
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hill Top is located in Menard County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Top
- Jordanville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Jordanville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordanville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- New Berlin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bradfordton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bradfordton is located in Sangamon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradfordton
- Newmansville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Newmansville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pleasant Plains. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pleasant Plains.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Pleasant Plains ...
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 111 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pleasant Plains.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Pleasant Plains. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Pleasant Plains and those printed in the larger area surrounding Pleasant Plains.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<2> of Pleasant Plains.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Pleasant Plains:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Sangamon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Fulton County
- Logan County
- Macoupin County
- Mason County
- Menard County
- Morgan County
- Schuyler County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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> | 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- Pleasant Plains) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Pleasant Plains, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |