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 Rural Hill (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 Rural Hill. 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 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.
Rural Hill is located in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County: Franklin, Gallatin, Jefferson, Saline, Wayne, White & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Rural Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rural Hill:
- Hamilton County (The home county of Rural Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Walpole
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Macedonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Flint
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Dale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Broughton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Diamond City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lovilla
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Dahlgren
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Piopolis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Belle Prairie City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Akin
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Thompsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Parrish
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
- Hanaford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Smothersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Frisco
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Steel City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Taylor Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Deering City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Deering City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering City
- Ewing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Benton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Gallatin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Omaha
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Elba
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elba is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Equality
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lawler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lawler is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
- Inman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Inman is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman
- Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Haven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Shawneetown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Belle Rive
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ina
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Bonnie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Opdyke
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Nason
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Dareville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Emerson City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Bluford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Markham City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Markham City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
- Marlow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Marcoe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- New Burnside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Egyptian Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
- Ozark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Eagle Point Bay
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eagle Point Bay is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point Bay
- Deer Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- McCormick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- McCormick is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCormick
- Oak
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Oak is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
- Herod
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hartsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Cornerville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Raleigh
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
- Texas City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Texas City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City
- Buena Vista
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Eldorado
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Muddy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saline City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saline City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Harrisburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Liberty
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Keenes
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Wayne City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Barnhill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sims
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Boyleston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Norris City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Enfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Stokes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Roland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Roland is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Springerton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Herald
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mill Shoals
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Carmi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Emma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Burnt Prairie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Hartford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Corinth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Pittsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Johnston City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stiritz
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Spillertown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Spillertown is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spillertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Whiteash
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Freeman Spur
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Marion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Herrin
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Energy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rural Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Rural Hill.
Cemeteries Near Rural Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rural Hill.
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 Rural Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rural Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Lampley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Winn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Good Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hall Town Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- McFarland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cartwright Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cook Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brady Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cardwell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Knights Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Ruff Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Durham Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (478 more) ...
- Hayes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Isaacs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brooks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Rural Hill had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rural Hill, with the one closest to Rural Hill listed first.
- Braden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Braden is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Olga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Olga is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
- West End
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- West End is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
- Walpole
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Akin
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Thompsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Long Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Macedonia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Locust Grove ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Locust Grove is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
- Flint
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Galatia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Parrish
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Hoodville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hoodville is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodville
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rural Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rural Hill.
Newspapers Published in Rural Hill ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rural Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rural Hill, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rural Hill.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Rural Hill:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hamilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Gallatin County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Pope County
- Saline County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson 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 Rural Hill, 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' (or 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- Rural Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |