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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 Randolph (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 Randolph. 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 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.

Randolph is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of Randolph)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Downs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Gillum
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Shirley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Heyworth
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Brokaw
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Bloomington
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Normal
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • McLean
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Le Roy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Yuton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Merna
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Towanda
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Stanford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Champaign County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Lotus
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Lotus is located in Champaign County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
    • Foosland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Wapella
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Waynesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Birkbeck
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Clinton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Tabor
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Hallsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • De Witt
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Watkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Parnell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Midland City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Lane
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Kenney
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Ford County
    • Proctor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Proctor is located in Ford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Beason
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawndale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Evans
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Bell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Chestnut
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Lincoln
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hartsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Chestervale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Emden
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Latham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Maroa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Argenta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Oreana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Warrensburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Piatt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • De Land
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Mansfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cisco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Armington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Minier
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Lilly
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Tazewell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Burt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Mindale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Richmond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Walnut
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Mackinaw
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Mackinaw is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackinaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
      • Former name for Mackinaw:
      • Mackinawtown
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mackinaw <1>
    • Boynton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Hopedale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Kappa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Congerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • El Paso
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Secor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Panola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Eureka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Randolph ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Randolph.

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

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

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

  • Stewart Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Passwater Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Bishop Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • County Farm Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Grassy Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Rutledge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Diamond Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Diamond Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Blooming Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Heyworth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (250 more) ...
    • Shirley Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jewish Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Bishop Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Randolph had a population of 16 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Hendrix
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hendrix is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
  • Heyworth
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Downs
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Gillum
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Gillum is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
  • Shirley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Brokaw
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Brokaw is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
  • Bloomington
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Funks Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Funks Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funks Grove
  • Covell
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Covell is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covell
  • Normal
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Twin Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Twin Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
  • Barnes
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Barnes is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • McLean
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Wapella
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Holder
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Holder is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holder

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

Newspapers Published in Randolph ...

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 128 newspapers that have been published in the area around Randolph.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Randolph:

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 Randolph, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- Randolph) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.