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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 Twin Grove (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 Twin Grove. 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.

Name Variations for Twin Grove ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Twin Grove: Twin Grv.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Twin Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Twin Grove.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

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

  • McLean County     (The home county of Twin Grove)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Twin Grove, with the one closest to Twin Grove listed first.
    • Yuton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Yuton is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
    • Bloomington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Normal
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Danvers
      (5 miles [8 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
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Shirley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Stanford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Brokaw
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Brokaw is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
    • Hudson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Towanda
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Downs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Gillum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gillum is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillum
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Twin Grove, with the one closest to Twin Grove listed first.
    • Waynesville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Wapella
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Tabor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Hallsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
    • Clinton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Midland City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Birkbeck
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Birkbeck is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birkbeck
    • Watkins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Watkins is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins
    • De Witt
      (26 miles [41.8 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
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fullerton is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
    • Parnell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Parnell is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Kenney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Twin Grove, with the one closest to Twin Grove listed first.
    • Flanagan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Graymont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Twin Grove, with the one closest to Twin Grove listed first.
    • Atlanta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawndale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Evans
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Beason
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Emden
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hartsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Lincoln
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Chestnut
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Chestervale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
  • Mason County
    • San Jose
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Twin Grove, with the one closest to Twin Grove listed first.
    • North Peoria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • North Peoria is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Peoria
    • Peoria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Twin Grove, with the one closest to Twin Grove listed first.
    • Lilly
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Lilly is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
    • Minier
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Tazewell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Tazewell is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tazewell
    • Mackinaw
      (14 miles [22.5 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
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Fravert is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fravert
    • Mindale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Mindale is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mindale
    • Walnut
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Walnut is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
    • Deer Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Armington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sutter ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sutter is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutter
    • Richmond
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Allentown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Allentown is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
  • Woodford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Twin Grove, with the one closest to Twin Grove listed first.
    • Congerville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Kappa
      (13 miles [20.9 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
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • El Paso
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Secor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Eureka
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola
      (20 miles [32.2 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
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Benson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Woodford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Woodford is located in Woodford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
    • Metamora
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Germantown Hills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Twin Grove ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Twin Grove.

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 Twin Grove - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • East Twin Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • West Twin Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Scogin Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Hall - Barnard Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Jewish Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Park Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lantz Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Evergreen Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Park Lawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (287 more) ...
    • Troyer Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Shirley Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • County Farm Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Twin Grove had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Yuton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Yuton is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuton
  • Covell
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Covell is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covell
  • Bloomington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Normal
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Danvers
    (5 miles [8 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>
  • Shirley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Carlock
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hendrix
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Hendrix is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendrix
  • Stanford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Funks Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Funks Grove is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funks Grove
  • Randolph
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Randolph is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
  • Brokaw
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Brokaw is located in McLean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokaw
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Barnes
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Barnes is located in McLean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
    • Hudson
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Towanda
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Twin Grove ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Twin Grove.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Twin Grove, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Twin Grove.

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 Twin Grove:

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 Twin Grove, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Twin Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.