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 Porterville (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 Porterville. 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 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.
Porterville is located in Crawford 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 Crawford County: Clark, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Knox (IN) & Sullivan (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Porterville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Porterville:
- Crawford County (The home county of Porterville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Annapolis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Dogwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Dogwood is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood
- Trimble
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Trimble is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Stoy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Robinson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hutsonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Kibbie ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kibbie is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
- West York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bellair
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bellair is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellair
- Oil Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Oil Center is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
- Gordon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gordon is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Oblong
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Melrose
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Melrose is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Hogue Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hogue Town is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogue Town
- York
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- York is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- West Union
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Union is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Oak Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Point is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Snyder
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Snyder is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder
- Martinsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Casey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cumberland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cumberland is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Clark Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Clark Center is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark Center
- Marshall
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cleone
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cleone is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleone
- Coles County
- Hutton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hutton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Hazel Dell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hazel Dell is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Dell
- Greenup
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Timothy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Timothy is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timothy
- Union Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Union Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
- Walla Walla
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Walla Walla is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Walla
- Jewett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Diona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Diona is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diona
- Toledo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bradbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bradbury is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradbury
- Janesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Oliver
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Oliver is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
- Bell Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bell Ridge is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Ridge
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Hunt City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hunt City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
- Yale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Willow Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sainte Marie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Falmouth
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Falmouth is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Rose Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Hidalgo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Newton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- West Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Liberty is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
- Lis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lis is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
- Bogota
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bogota is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- Wheeler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Birds
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Russellville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrenceville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bridgeport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sumner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Billett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Billett is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Amity
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Amity is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Dundas
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Claremont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Olney
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wakefield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wakefield is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
- Greene County (IN)
- Gilmour
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Gilmour is located in Greene County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmour
- Knox County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Oaktown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Busseron
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Busseron is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busseron
- Bruceville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Freelandville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Freelandville is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freelandville
- Sullivan County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Merom
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Graysville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Graysville is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
- Fairbanks
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fairbanks is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
- New Lebanon
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Scott City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Scott City is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Sullivan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Paxton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Paxton is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Shelburn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Carlisle
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Farmersburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hymera
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hymera is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hymera
- Population from the 2020 Census: 758 people
- Jericho
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Jericho is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Vigo County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Vigo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Vigo is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vigo
- Prairie Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie Creek is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Creek
- Prairieton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Prairieton is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieton
- Pimento
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pimento is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pimento
- Youngstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Youngstown is located in Vigo County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Porterville, see our County-by-County Page for Porterville.
Cemeteries Near Porterville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Porterville.
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 Porterville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Porterville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Prairie Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Kirk Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Newlin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dix Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ball Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cox Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Stanfield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Old Robinson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Guyer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harmony Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (445 more) ...
- Olive Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- White Oak Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- New Robinson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Porterville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Porterville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Porterville, with the one closest to Porterville listed first.
- Annapolis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Stoy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Robinson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Trimble
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Trimble is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Kibbie ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kibbie is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
- Hutsonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oblong
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gordon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gordon is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- West York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Moonshine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Moonshine is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moonshine
- Bellair
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bellair is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellair
- Orange
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Orange is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Melrose
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Melrose is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- New Hebron
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- New Hebron is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
- Duncanville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Duncanville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Porterville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Porterville.
Newspapers Published in Porterville ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Porterville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Porterville, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Porterville.
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 Porterville:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Crawford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- Edgar County
- Jasper County
- Lawrence County
- Richland County
- Greene County
- Knox County
- Sullivan County
- Vigo 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 '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- Porterville) 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 Porterville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |