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 Rockwood (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 Rockwood. 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 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 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.
Rockwood 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 Rockwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rockwood:
- Randolph County (The home county of Rockwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Leanderville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Leanderville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanderville
- Shiloh Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Welge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- Chester
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bremen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Menard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Steeleville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Percy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Kaskaskia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kaskaskia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaskaskia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13 people
- New Palestine
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Blair
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Dozaville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Dozaville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dozaville
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Degognia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Campbell Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jacob
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ava
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Gorham
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oraville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Grand Tower
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Vergennes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Murphysboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pomona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- De Soto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dowell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Willisville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cutler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Denmark
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Conant
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Pyatts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Pinckneyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Winkle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Du Quoin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Sunfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Saint Clair County
- Marissa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Wolf Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alto Pass
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Washington County
- Clarmin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Hurst
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bush
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Bollinger County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Sedgewickville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sedgewickville is located in Bollinger County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedgewickville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Patton Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Patton Junction is located in Bollinger County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton Junction
- Patton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Old Appleton
(16 miles [25.7 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Shawneetown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Shawneetown is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawneetown
- Daisy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Daisy is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Oak Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pocahontas
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Leemon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Leemon is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemon
- Millersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- McBride
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- McBride is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- Farrar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Sereno
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sereno is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sereno
- Lithium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
- Eureka
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Brazeau
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Brazeau is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazeau
- Longtown
(12 miles [19.3 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
- Perryville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Frohna
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Uniontown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Uniontown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Altenburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Biehle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- 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 Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Saint Mary
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ozora
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Ozora is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozora
- Quarry Town
(18 miles [29 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
- Minnith
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Minnith is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnith
- Sainte Genevieve
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Little Rock Landing ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Little Rock Landing is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Landing
- River aux Vases
(23 miles [37 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
- Marlo ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Marlo is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlo
- Clearwater
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Clearwater is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearwater
- Zell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Zell is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zell
- Coffman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Coffman is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coffman
- New Offenburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- New Offenburg is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Offenburg
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rockwood, see our County-by-County Page for Rockwood.
Cemeteries Near Rockwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rockwood.
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 Rockwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rockwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Reid Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hindman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Houge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Moore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fulford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Buchanan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Isom Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Summit Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Tindall Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (275 more) ...
- Frazer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kirk Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Draves Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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 Rockwood had a population of 137 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Rockwood had a population of 43 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
- Point Rest
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Point Rest is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Rest
- Degognia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Belgique
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Belgique is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgique
- Grand Eddy
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Grand Eddy is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Eddy
- Crosstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Crosstown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosstown
- Shiloh Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Chester
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Claryville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Claryville is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claryville
- Welge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- Sereno
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sereno is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sereno
- Bremen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Seventysix
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Seventysix is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seventysix
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Campbell Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Menard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lithium
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rockwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rockwood.
Newspapers Published in Rockwood ...
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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rockwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rockwood, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rockwood.
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 Rockwood:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jackson County
- Perry County
- Saint Clair County
- Union County
- Washington County
- Williamson County
- Bollinger 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> | 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 Rockwood, 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 from Point A (ie- Rockwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |