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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 Shirley (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 Shirley. 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 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.

Shirley is located in McLean 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 McLean County: Champaign, De Witt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell & Woodford.

Below are the counties that are near Shirley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shirley:

  • McLean County     (The home county of Shirley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Bloomington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Heyworth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Brokaw
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Gillum
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
    • Yuton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Normal
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • McLean
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Stanford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Downs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Danvers
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Danvers is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danvers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
      • Danvers has also been known as:
      • Danver
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danvers <1>
    • Carlock
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Towanda
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Waynesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Wapella
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Tabor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Hallsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Clinton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Midland City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Birkbeck
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Kenney
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • De Witt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • De Witt is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
    • Fullerton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Watkins
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • Lane
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawndale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Beason
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Evans
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Bell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Hartsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lincoln
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Emden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Chestnut
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Chestervale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Mount Pulaski
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Broadwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
  • Macon County
    • Maroa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Mason County
    • San Jose
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Piatt County
    • De Land
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Armington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Minier
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Lilly
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Tazewell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Burt
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Fravert ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Mindale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Richmond
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Mackinaw
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Mackinaw is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackinaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,861 people
      • Former name for Mackinaw:
      • Mackinawtown
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mackinaw <1>
    • Walnut
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Hopedale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Congerville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Kappa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Kappa is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Goodfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • El Paso
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Secor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Eureka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Panola is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
    • Roanoke
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Benson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Woodford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shirley, see our County-by-County Page for Shirley.

Cemeteries Near Shirley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shirley.

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 Shirley - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shirley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.

  • Shirley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Grassy Ridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • County Farm Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Scogin Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Funks Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Blooming Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Jewish Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Stewart Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Price Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Evergreen Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (273 more) ...

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 Shirley had a population of 119 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.

  • Covell
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Covell is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covell
  • Funks Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Funks Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funks Grove
  • Randolph
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Randolph is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
  • Hendrix
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Hendrix is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
  • Bloomington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Twin Grove
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Twin Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
  • Heyworth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • McLean
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Gillum
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Gillum is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
  • Brokaw
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Brokaw is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
  • Normal
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Yuton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Yuton is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Stanford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Downs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Barnes
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Barnes is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shirley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shirley.

Newspapers Published in Shirley ...

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 181 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shirley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shirley, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shirley.

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 Shirley:

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 Shirley, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Shirley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.