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 Towanda (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 Towanda. 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.
Towanda 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 Towanda. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Towanda:
- McLean County (The home county of Towanda)
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Hudson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Merna
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Normal
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brokaw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Brokaw is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
- Bloomington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lexington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Yuton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Yuton is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
- Cooksville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Gillum
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gillum is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
- Downs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Gridley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Ellsworth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Carlock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Foosland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lotus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lotus is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lotus
- De Witt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Watkins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Watkins is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
- Wapella
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Fullerton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Fullerton is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
- Farmer City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Parnell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Parnell is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
- Waynesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Birkbeck
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
- De Witt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- De Witt is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- Clinton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tabor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tabor is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Hallsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hallsville is located in De Witt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
- Lane
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Garber
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Garber is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garber
- Sibley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Gibson City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Gibson City is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,275 people
- Gibson City has also been known as:
- Gibson
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson City <1>
- Proctor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Proctor is located in Ford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proctor
- La Salle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Dana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Rutland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Flanagan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Graymont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fairbury
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- McDowell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- McDowell is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDowell
- Avoca ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Avoca is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Pontiac
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Strawn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Forrest
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cornell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Long Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Cayuga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cayuga is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Swygert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Swygert is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swygert
- Logan County
- Atlanta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Lilly
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lilly is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Minier
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tazewell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
- Mackinaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Fravert ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fravert is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
- Walnut
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Walnut is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Armington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Allentown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Allentown is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
- Mayfair
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Mayfair is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfair
- Mindale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Mindale is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
- Sutter ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sutter is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
- Cooper
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cooper is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Woodford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Kappa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kappa is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- El Paso
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Panola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Panola is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Congerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Secor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Woodford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Woodford is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
- Goodfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Benson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Eureka
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roanoke
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Minonk
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Metamora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Towanda, see our County-by-County Page for Towanda.
Cemeteries Near Towanda ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Towanda.
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 Towanda - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Towanda covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Pennell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bishop Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Smith Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hinthorn Union Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinthorn Union Chapel Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hinthorn Union Chapel Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 10 miles [16.1 km]<2> to the north of Bloomington.
- The Hinthorn Union Chapel Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hinthorn Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1934183 <3>
- East Lawn Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Merna Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Havens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilcox - Coon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Dawson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (260 more) ...
- Kaufman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Benjaminville Friends Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Towanda had a population of 402 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Towanda had a population of 461 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Towanda, with the one closest to Towanda listed first.
- Barnes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barnes is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Normal
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Merna
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fletcher
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fletcher is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Bloomington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brokaw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Brokaw is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
- Yuton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Yuton is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
- Lexington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Holder
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Holder is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holder
- Cooksville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Kappa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kappa is located in Woodford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kappa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Twin Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Twin Grove is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Grove
- Hendrix
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hendrix is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
- Gillum
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Gillum is located in McLean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Towanda. See our List of 1890's Communities around Towanda.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Towanda ...
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 329 newspapers that have been published in the area around Towanda.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Towanda. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Towanda and those printed in the larger area surrounding Towanda.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2> of Towanda.
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 helpful 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 Towanda:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to McLean County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- De Witt County
- Ford County
- La Salle County
- Livingston County
- Logan County
- Tazewell County
- Woodford 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Towanda) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Towanda, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |