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 Sidney (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 Sidney. 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 and hospitals 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.
Sidney is located in Champaign 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 Champaign County: Douglas, Edgar, Ford, McLean, Piatt & Vermilion.
Below are the counties that are near Sidney. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sidney:
- Champaign County (The home county of Sidney)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Rutherford
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rutherford is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutherford
- Philo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Homer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mayview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Saint Joseph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Ogden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Broadlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Urbana
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Longview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Savoy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Champaign
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tolono
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Oakland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rardin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Bushton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Fairland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Villa Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- Murdock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Hayes
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Camargo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Newman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Patterson Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Tuscola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chicken Bristle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Ficklin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Hindsboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kemp
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Filson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Edgar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Palermo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Palermo is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Hume
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Metcalf
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brocton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Chrisman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Borton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Borton is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borton
- Bloomfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloomfield is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Redmon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Scottland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Scottland is located in Edgar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottland
- Ford County
- Paxton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- White Heath
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Atwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mansfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Monticello
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bement
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Voorhies
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Vermilion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Allerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fairmount
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fithian
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Muncie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Archie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Archie is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archie
- Sidell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Missionfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Missionfield is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missionfield
- Glenburn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Glenburn is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenburn
- Indianola
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Belgium Row
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Belgium Row is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgium Row
- Newtown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Newtown is located in Vermilion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Catlin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Vermillion County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Rileysburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rileysburg is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rileysburg
- Gessie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Gessie is located in Vermillion County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gessie
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sidney, see our County-by-County Page for Sidney.
Cemeteries Near Sidney ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sidney.
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 Sidney - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sidney covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bliss Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliss Cemetery
- The Bliss Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Bliss Cemetery
- Bill Huss Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Old Huss Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- The Calvary Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Catholic Cemetery
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
- Umbenhower Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lynn Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lost Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Peters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peters Cemetery
- The Peters Cemetery has also been known as:
- Thompson Cemetery
- Locust Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Burris - Hartman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burris - Hartman Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Burris - Hartman Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the northwest of Homer.
- Patterson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (287 more) ...
- Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
- The Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ayers Luthern Cemetery
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Homer Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
- The Homer Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery has also been known as:
- American Legion Cemetery
- Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
- Homer G. A. R Cemetery
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Sidney had a population of 58 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Sidney had a population of 1,172 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sidney, with the one closest to Sidney listed first.
- Deers
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Deers is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deers
- Philo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mayview
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mayview is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
- Homer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Saint Joseph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mira
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mira is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mira
- Broadlands
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ogden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Savoy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Tolono
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Fairland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fairland is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Allerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Champaign
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Villa Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Grove is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,414 people
- Sellers
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sellers is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sidney. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sidney.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Sidney ...
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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sidney.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Sidney. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Sidney and those printed in the larger area surrounding Sidney.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3> of Sidney.
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 Sidney:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Champaign County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coles County
- Douglas County
- Edgar County
- Ford County
- Piatt County
- Vermilion County
- Vermillion 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> | 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- Sidney) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Sidney, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |