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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 Southport (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 Southport. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Southport 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 Southport. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Southport:

  • Peoria County     (The home county of Southport)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • Brimfield
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Elmwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Trivoli
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Edwards
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Hanna City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Laura
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Monica
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Monica is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
    • Norwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Dunlap
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Orange Prairie
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Elmore
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Elmore is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmore
    • Maxwell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • Farmington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Norris
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Brereton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
    • Breeds
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Canton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairview
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Banner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Bybee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bybee is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
    • London Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Dunfermline
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Fiatt
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint David
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • Galva
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Kewanee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Bishop Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • Yates City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Williamsfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Maquon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Dahinda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Appleton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • Gilson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Victoria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Knox
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • De Long
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Knoxville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • East Galesburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
    • Oneida
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • Camp Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Hopewell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopewell is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 394 people
    • Sparland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lacon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lacon is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,713 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lacon <1>
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • Manito
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Goofy Ridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Buzzville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Forest City
      (29 miles [46.7 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
  • Stark County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • West Jersey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • West Jersey is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Jersey
    • Speer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Wyoming
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Toulon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • La Fayette
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Modena
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Modena is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modena
    • Castleton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Osceola
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Osceola is located in Stark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
    • Bradford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • East Peoria
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
    • North Pekin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
    • Wesley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Wesley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
    • Creve Coeur
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Marquette Heights is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquette Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,617 people
    • Trailpark Gardens
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Trailpark Gardens is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailpark Gardens
    • Talbott
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Crescent
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Highway Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Highway Village is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highway Village
    • Pekin
      (20 miles [32.2 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>
    • Radville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Powerton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
  • Warren County
    • Surrey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Surrey is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Surrey
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Southport, with the one closest to Southport listed first.
    • Bay View Gardens
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Spring Bay is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 456 people
    • Germantown Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Metamora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Southport ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Southport.

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

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

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

  • Southport Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Lehigh Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Brimfield Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Elmwood City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Texas Station Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Watkins Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (327 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>

While we didn't find Southport in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Southport.

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

  • Oak Hill
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Oak Hill is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
  • Elmwood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Brimfield
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Trivoli
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Kramm
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Kramm is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kramm
  • Yates City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Cramer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Cramer is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cramer
  • Eden
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Eden is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
  • Farmington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Hanna City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Edwards
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Monica
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Monica is located in Peoria County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monica
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Laura
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Douglas
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Douglas is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
    • Smithville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Smithville is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville

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

Newspapers Published in Southport ...

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 200 newspapers that have been published in the area around Southport.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Southport, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Southport.

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 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 Southport:

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 Southport, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Southport) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.