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 Rennerville (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 Rennerville. 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.
Rennerville is located in Shelby 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 Shelby County: Christian, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Montgomery & Moultrie.
Below are the counties that are near Rennerville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rennerville:
- Shelby County (The home county of Rennerville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Shelbyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Findlay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Middlesworth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Yantisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Tower Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Windsor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Strasburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fancher
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Fancher is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
- Mode
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mode is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
- Cowden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Sexson Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Moweaqua
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Christian County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Assumption
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Millersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Millersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
- Rosamond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Owaneco
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sandersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sandersville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Velma
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Velma is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
- Stonington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Taylorville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Clarksdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Clarksdale is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
- Langleyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Langleyville is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
- Sharpsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Magnet
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Cooks Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Mattoon
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Dorans
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Trilla
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Humboldt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lerna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Neoga
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Johnstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Janesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Arthur
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Arcola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Effingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Beecher City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Beecher City is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
- Shumway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Moccasin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Moccasin is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
- Green Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Green Creek is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Dexter
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dexter is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
- Funkhouser
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
- Altamont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Effingham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Teutopolis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Montrose
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Montrose is located in Effingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 195 people
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Holliday
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Holliday is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
- Dressor
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dressor is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
- Ramsey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Elmo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Howards Point ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Howards Point is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
- Bayle City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bayle City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Hervey City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Macon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Casner
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Turpin
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Blue Mound
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Boody
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elwin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sangamon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Harristown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Ohlman
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Nokomis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wenonah
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Coalton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coalton is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
- Moultrie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Bethany
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Dunn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Sullivan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Allenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Gays
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cushman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Dalton City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Coles
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Lovington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lake City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Cadwell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- La Place
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lintner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Burrowsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Hammond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cerro Gordo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Atwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rennerville, see our County-by-County Page for Rennerville.
Cemeteries Near Rennerville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rennerville.
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 Rennerville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rennerville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Austin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shelby Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Moyer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Washington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oliver Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bethel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cutler Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Glenwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Brunswick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Plank Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Craig Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (381 more) ...
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hudson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mahoney Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<2>
While we didn't find Rennerville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rennerville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rennerville, with the one closest to Rennerville listed first.
- Shelbyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Middlesworth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Findlay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Henton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Henton is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henton
- Yantisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Todds Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Todds Point is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todds Point
- Tower Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Obed
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Obed is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Obed
- Lakewood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lakewood is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Strasburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bruce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bruce is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Fancher
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Fancher is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Mode
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mode is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
- Dunn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Bethany
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rennerville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rennerville.
Newspapers Published in Rennerville ...
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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rennerville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rennerville, 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 Rennerville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Rennerville:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Shelby County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Christian County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- Douglas County
- Effingham County
- Fayette County
- Macon County
- Montgomery County
- Moultrie County
- Piatt 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> | 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 Rennerville, 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 from Point A (ie- Rennerville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |