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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 Smithville (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 Smithville. 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.

Smithville is located in Peoria 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 Peoria County: Fulton, Knox, Marshall, Stark, Tazewell & Woodford.

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

  • Peoria County     (The home county of Smithville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Hanna City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Maxwell
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Trivoli
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bellevue
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
    • Edwards
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Norwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Glasford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bartonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Kingston Mines
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Mapleton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Pottstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown
    • West Peoria
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Breeds
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Banner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Farmington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Brereton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
    • Norris
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Canton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dunfermline
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint David
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Bryant
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bybee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bybee is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
    • Fiatt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Yates City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Maquon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Williamsfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Dahinda
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Gilson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Appleton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • De Long
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Knox
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • Knoxville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Victoria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Logan County
    • Emden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Hopewell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopewell is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
    • Camp Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Manito
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Union
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Forest City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Goofy Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Buzzville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Topeka
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • San Jose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Natrona
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Havana
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Easton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Poplar City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Teheran
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
  • Stark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Speer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • West Jersey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • West Jersey is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
    • Wyoming
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Toulon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • North Pekin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • North Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
      • Former name for North Pekin:
      • Radio City
    • Creve Coeur
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Creve Coeur is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creve Coeur
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,109 people
      • Former name for Creve Coeur:
      • Wesley City
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Creve Coeur <1>
    • Marquette Heights
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Marquette Heights is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquette Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,617 people
    • Wesley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Wesley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
    • Talbott
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Crescent
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Pekin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pekin <1>
    • Powerton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Stoehrs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • East Peoria
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • East Peoria is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Peoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,344 people
      • Former name for East Peoria:
      • Hilton
    • Midway
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Schaeferville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Schaeferville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schaeferville
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithville, with the one closest to Smithville listed first.
    • Bay View Gardens
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bay View Gardens is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View Gardens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
    • Spring Bay
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Germantown Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Metamora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Eureka
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Goodfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Smithville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithville.

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

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

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

  • Smithville Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Harker's Corner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Penn Ridge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cameron Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Cottonwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Lancaster Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Maple Ridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Christ Episcopal Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Brunswick Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (327 more) ...
    • Hinkle Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Perria County Farm Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Texas Station Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Smithville had a population of 122 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Hanna City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Eden
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Eden is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
  • Maxwell
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
  • Trivoli
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Glasford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Edwards
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Kramm
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Kramm is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kramm
  • Kingston Mines
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Mapleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Bartonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Kickapoo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Kickapoo is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kickapoo
  • Cramer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cramer is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cramer
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Orchard Mines
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Orchard Mines is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Mines
    • Hollis
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hollis is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
    • Pottstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Pottstown is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown

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

Newspapers Published in Smithville ...

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 236 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smithville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smithville, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smithville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Smithville:

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 Smithville, 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- Smithville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.