RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Christian County >> Radford >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Radford (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 Radford. 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 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.

Radford is located in Christian 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 Christian County: Macon, Montgomery, Sangamon & Shelby.

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

  • Christian County     (The home county of Radford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • Assumption
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Sandersville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
    • Stonington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Millersville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Millersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Owaneco
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Velma
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
    • Pana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <1>
    • Taylorville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Rosamond
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Grove City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Mount Auburn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Langleyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
  • Effingham County
    • Beecher City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • Dressor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Holliday
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
    • Ramsey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Logan County
    • Latham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • Macon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Blue Mound
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Boody
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Elwin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Turpin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
    • Hervey City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hervey City is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
    • Mount Zion
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Harristown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Long Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Long Creek is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
    • Decatur
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Niantic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Casner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Casner is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • Ohlman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Wenonah
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Nokomis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Coalton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Witt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • White Oak
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
    • Harvel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • Dalton City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Bethany
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Dunn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Lake City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Cushman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
    • Sullivan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Lovington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Allenville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Allenville is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
    • Cadwell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
    • Gays
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Gays is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gays <1>
    • Coles
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Coles is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • La Place
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lintner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lintner is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
    • Burrowsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
    • Cerro Gordo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hammond
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Milmine
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Sangamon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • Illiopolis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Buffalo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • New City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • New City is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
    • Dawson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rochester
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pawnee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
    • Moweaqua
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Yantisville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
    • Tower Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Findlay
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Shelbyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lakewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Oconee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Middlesworth
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
    • Herrick
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Cowden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Windsor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Fancher
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher

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

Cemeteries Near Radford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Radford.

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

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

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

  • Ludwig Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hayes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Jacobs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Masonic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Westside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • IOOF Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bilyeu Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Adams Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Traughber Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Traughber Cemetery
    • The Traughber Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Moweaqua Twp. Cemetery
    • Traughber - Snyder Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108571 <2>
  • Continue List   (307 more) ...
    • Long Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Little Flock Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Radford had a population of 40 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Moweaqua
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Assumption
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Walker
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Walker is located in Macon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
  • Dunkel
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Dunkel is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkel
  • Obed
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Obed is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obed
  • Yantisville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
  • Blue Mound
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Macon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Stonington
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Owaneco
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Millersville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Millersville is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
  • Henton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Henton is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henton
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Willeys
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Willeys is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willeys
    • Velma
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
    • Pana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Radford ...

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 146 newspapers that have been published in the area around Radford.

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

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 helpful 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 Radford:

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 Radford, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Radford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.