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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 Union Town (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 Union Town. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Union Town is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Clay, Clinton, Fayette, Jefferson, Washington & Wayne.

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

  • Marion County     (The home county of Union Town)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Iuka
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cartter
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Kell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bannister
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Omega
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Salem
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Alma
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Odin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Kinmundy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Central City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Xenia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Kenner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Iola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Camp Travis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Sailor Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Centralia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Hoffman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Boulder
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Boulder is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boulder
    • Huey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Huey is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Huey <1>
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Edgewood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Mason
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Farina
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • La Clede
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Saint Peter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Saint Paul
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
    • Loogootee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Shobonier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Frisco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Whittington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Dahlgren
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Belle Prairie City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Lovilla
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Piopolis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Bungay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Shields
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Texico
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dix
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Bluford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Markham City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Marlow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Idlewood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Summersville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Mount Vernon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Opdyke
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Jefferson City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Noble
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Baldwin Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Wamac
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Irvington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Richview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hoyleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Radom
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Radom is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Radom <1>
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Union Town, with the one closest to Union Town listed first.
    • Johnsonville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Keenes
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Wayne City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Rinard
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Sims
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cisne
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Geff
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Jeffersonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Boyleston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Enterprise
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Fairfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Barnhill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • White County
    • Mill Shoals
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Union Town ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Union Town.

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 Union Town - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Stuber Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Hickory Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Christian Home Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Fields Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Burroughs Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Barrall Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Blankenship Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Donoho Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Harmon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Palestine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Byars Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (439 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 Union Town in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Union Town.

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

  • Hickory Hill
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
  • Orchardville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Divide
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Divide is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divide
  • Foxville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Foxville is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxville
  • Iuka
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Bannister
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bannister is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
  • Xenia
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Dix
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Dix is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
  • Johnsonville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Salem
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Omega
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Omega is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Idlewood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Marlow
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Bluford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Union Town ...

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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Union Town.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Union Town, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Union Town.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Union Town:

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 Union Town, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Union Town) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.