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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
Randolph is located in Randolph 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 Randolph County: Jackson, Monroe, Perry, Saint Clair, Washington, Perry (MO) & Sainte Genevieve (MO).
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:
- Randolph County (The home county of Randolph)
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Bremen
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Welge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- New Palestine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Blair
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Steeleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Leanderville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Leanderville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanderville
- Chester
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Menard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Percy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rockwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ellis Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Kaskaskia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Kaskaskia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaskaskia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13 people
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Degognia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Campbell Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ava
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jacob
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oraville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Vergennes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gorham
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Tower
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Murphysboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dowell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Elkville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hallidayboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- De Soto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Renault
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hecker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Burksville Station
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burksville Station is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burksville Station
- Fults
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burksville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burksville
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Willisville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Cutler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Denmark
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Conant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Winkle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Pyatts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Pinckneyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Du Quoin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Sunfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Marissa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Lenzburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- New Athens
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- New Athens is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Athens
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,865 people
- Saint Libory
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fayetteville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Fayetteville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- Lementon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lementon is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lementon
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Clarmin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Caspars
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- Elkton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Oakdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stone Church
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Stone Church is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Church
- Venedy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Venedy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Posen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Old Appleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Old Appleton is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Appleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Friedheim
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Shawneetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Shawneetown is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawneetown
- Daisy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Daisy is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- McBride
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- McBride is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- Lithium
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
- Sereno
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sereno is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sereno
- Perryville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Farrar
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Eureka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Longtown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Longtown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Brazeau
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Brazeau is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazeau
- Frohna
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Frohna is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frohna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Silver Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Silver Lake is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
- Altenburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Uniontown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Uniontown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Biehle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Biehle is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biehle
- Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Saint Mary
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Quarry Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Quarry Town is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry Town
- Quarry Town has also been known as:
- Quarrytown
- Sainte Genevieve
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Ozora
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ozora is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozora
- Little Rock Landing ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Landing is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Landing
- Minnith
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Minnith is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnith
- Marlo ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Marlo is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlo
- River aux Vases
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- River aux Vases is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River aux Vases
- Former name for River aux Vases:
- Staabtown
- Zell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Zell is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zell
- Clement ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clement is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clement
- New Offenburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- New Offenburg is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Offenburg
- Clearwater
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clearwater is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearwater
- Bloomsdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
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.
- Paradise Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mill Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mann Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Grah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Draves Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Fulford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Emery Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Steeleville City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (266 more) ...
- Frazer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Tindall Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Moore Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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>
While we didn't find Randolph in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Randolph.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
- Bremen
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Welge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- New Palestine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Chester
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Steeleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blair
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Menard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Claryville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Claryville is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claryville
- Shiloh Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Percy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kampenville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kampenville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kampenville
- Kaskaskia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Kaskaskia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaskaskia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13 people
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Belgique
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Belgique is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgique
- Rockwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Degognia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
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 147 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 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. 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 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 Randolph:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jackson County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
- Saint Clair County
- Washington County
- Cape Girardeau County
- Perry County
- Sainte Genevieve 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> | 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 Randolph, 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 obstructions 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'. |