Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Pleasant Ridge. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Pleasant Ridge to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Pleasant Ridge, please Contact Us.
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 Ridge (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 Ridge. 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 Ridge ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Pleasant Ridge: Pleasant Rdg. (or less commonly used: Pleasant Rdge. or Pleasant Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Pleasant Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Pleasant Ridge.
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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Pleasant Ridge is historic, it would have been located within present day Fulton 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 Fulton County: Knox, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Schuyler, Tazewell & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Pleasant Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pleasant Ridge:
- Fulton County (The home county of Pleasant Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- London Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Avon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ellisville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Babylon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Babylon is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
- Checkrow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Checkrow is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Checkrow
- Blyton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blyton is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyton
- Fairview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bybee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bybee is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
- Marietta
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Fiatt
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Smithfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Cuba
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Raritan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Raritan is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raritan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Media
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Media is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Media
- Population from the 2020 Census: 93 people
- Biggsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Biggsville is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Stronghurst
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Saint Augustine
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Abingdon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- De Long
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- Maquon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gilson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Knoxville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- East Galesburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- East Galesburg is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Galesburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Knox
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Knox is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Yates City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Appleton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Appleton is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
- Dahinda
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Buzzville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Buzzville is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
- Goofy Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Prairie City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie City is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Bushnell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- New Philadelphia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
- Bardolph
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Good Hope
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Adair
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Macomb
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sciota
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Lamone Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lamone Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamone Village
- University Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Blandinsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Alexis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- North Henderson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Peoria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Elmwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Trivoli
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Brimfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elmore is located in Peoria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
- Laura
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Glasford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hanna City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Tazewell County
- Radville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Radville is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Berwick
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Youngstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Youngstown is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Cameron
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Surrey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Surrey is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
- Roseville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Utah
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Utah is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utah
- Monmouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gerlaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kirkwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Smithshire
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shanghai City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Shanghai City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai City
- Eleanor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Eleanor is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eleanor
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pleasant Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Pleasant Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Pleasant Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pleasant Ridge.
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 Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pleasant Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Heartley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Flake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Babbitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Landon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Augustine Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Avon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Virgil Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hermon Methodist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hermon Christian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hunt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ellisville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (343 more) ...
- Boydston - Dawdy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- East Midway Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Midway 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.
While we didn't find Pleasant Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pleasant Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pleasant Ridge, with the one closest to Pleasant Ridge listed first.
- Saint Augustine
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Avon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- London Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hermon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hermon is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermon
- Ellisville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Prairie City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prairie City is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Babylon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Babylon is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babylon
- Manley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Manley is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manley
- Abingdon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- De Long
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- De Long is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
- Blyton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blyton is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyton
- Greenbush
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Greenbush is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbush
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Fairview
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rapatee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rapatee is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapatee
- Bybee
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bybee is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pleasant Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pleasant Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Pleasant Ridge ...
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 203 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pleasant Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pleasant Ridge, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pleasant Ridge.
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 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 Pleasant Ridge:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Fulton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Henderson County
- Knox County
- Mason County
- McDonough County
- Mercer County
- Peoria County
- Tazewell County
- Warren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Pleasant Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |