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 Ripley (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 Ripley. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Ripley is located in Brown 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 Brown County: Adams, Cass, Morgan, Pike & Schuyler.
Below are the counties that are near Ripley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ripley:
- Brown County (The home county of Ripley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Cooperstown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Gilbirds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Hersman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Mount Sterling
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Versailles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mound Station
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
- Timewell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Kellerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kellerville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellerville
- Clayton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Blacks
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Blacks is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacks
- Golden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- La Prairie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Camp Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Beverly
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Beverly is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Columbus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Columbus is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 96 people
- Liberty
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Coatsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Paloma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Beardstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Hagener
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hagener is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagener
- Bluff Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Arenzville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jules
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Jules is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jules
- Virginia
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Chandlerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Burlingame
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Burlingame is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Old Princeton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Old Princeton is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
- Philadelphia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Philadelphia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
- Sylvan ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sylvan is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Astoria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vermont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Summum
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Summum is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summum
- Table Grove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Marbletown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marbletown is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbletown
- Ipava
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Augusta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Plymouth
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bowen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chili
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chili is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chili
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Snicarte
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Snicarte is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snicarte
- White City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- White City is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Bath
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- McDonough County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Doddsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Doddsville is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Industry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Colmar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Colmar is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar
- Adair
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Colchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Tennessee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- East Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- East Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Macomb
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- University Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- University Village is located in McDonough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Meredosia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Concord
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chapin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan City ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Arcadia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Arcadia is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Literberry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 113 people
- Jacksonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Chambersburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Perry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Griggsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Valley City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Valley City is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Baylis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 131 people
- Florence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Florence is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Population from the 2020 Census: 36 people
- Detroit
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Detroit is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81 people
- Hadley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hadley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Pittsfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Rushville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Frederick
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Camden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wayland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Littleton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Browning
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Huntsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bader
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bader is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bader
- Bluff City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Naples
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bluffs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Exeter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Exeter is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Oxville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Oxville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxville
- Winchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ripley, see our County-by-County Page for Ripley.
Cemeteries Near Ripley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ripley.
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 Ripley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ripley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Ripley Twp. Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Herche Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Tebo Burial Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Logan Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Naught Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Palm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wilson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Huffman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Langford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Howell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jonte Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (565 more) ...
- Stephens Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Serrot Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Schramm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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 Ripley had a population of 304 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Ripley had a population of 82 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ripley, with the one closest to Ripley listed first.
- Cooperstown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cooperstown is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperstown
- Mount Sterling
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hersman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hersman is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersman
- Gilbirds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gilbirds is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbirds
- Rushville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Erwin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Erwin is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwin
- Versailles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Pleasant View
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant View is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Beardstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Frederick
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Camden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fargo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Fargo is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fargo
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Buckhorn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Buckhorn is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Wayland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wayland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Mound Station
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mound Station is located in Brown County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Station
- Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ripley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ripley.
Newspapers Published in Ripley ...
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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ripley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ripley, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ripley.
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 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 Ripley:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Brown County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Cass County
- Fulton County
- Hancock County
- Mason County
- McDonough County
- Morgan County
- Pike County
- Schuyler County
- Scott 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 Ripley, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ripley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |