RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Illinois >> Alexander County >> Unity >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Unity (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 Unity. 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 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.

Unity is located in Alexander 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 Alexander County: Pulaski, Union, Ballard (KY), Cape Girardeau (MO), Mississippi (MO) & Scott (MO).

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

  • Alexander County     (The home county of Unity)
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Cypress
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Belknap
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bender ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bender is located in Johnson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bender
    • Buncombe
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Vienna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Massac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Joppa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • New Columbia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Massac City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Massac City is located in Massac County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massac City
    • Metropolis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Pulaski County
  • Union County
  • Ballard County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Barlow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Wickliffe
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bandana
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • La Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Kevil
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Kevil is located in Ballard County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kevil
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kevil <1>
    • Blandville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Blandville is located in Ballard County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blandville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 84 people
    • Ceredo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Gage
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Lovelaceville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Carlisle County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Bardwell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Cunningham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Arlington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Arlington is located in Carlisle County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 296 people
  • Hickman County (KY)
  • McCracken County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Ragland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Woodville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Cimota City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cimota City is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cimota City
    • Future City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Future City is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Future City
    • West Future City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • West Future City is located in McCracken County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Future City
    • Grahamville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Camelia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • West Paducah
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Cape Girardeau County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Cape Girardeau
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Dutchtown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Gordonville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Delta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Delta is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 421 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delta <1>
    • Jackson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jackson is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,699 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
    • Leemon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Allenville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Allenville is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 118 people
    • Cliff ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Randles
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Whitewater
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Whitewater is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitewater
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
  • Mississippi County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Greenfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Greenfield is located in Mississippi County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Wyatt
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Wyatt is located in Mississippi County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
    • Wilson City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Wilson City is located in Mississippi County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
    • Charleston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Bertrand
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bertrand is located in Mississippi County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertrand
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
    • Anniston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Anniston is located in Mississippi County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anniston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
    • Thirtyfour Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Whiting
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • East Prairie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Pinhook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Pinhook is located in Mississippi County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinhook
      • Estimated population in 2012: 30 people
    • Wolf Island
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Wolf Island is located in Mississippi County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Island
  • New Madrid County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Sikeston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Morehouse
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Scott County (MO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Unity, with the one closest to Unity listed first.
    • Commerce
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Diehlstadt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Diehlstadt is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diehlstadt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 152 people
    • Kelso
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Kelso is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 589 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kelso <1>
    • Lambert
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Lambert is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambert
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 34 people
    • Scott City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Benton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Benton is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 880 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benton <1>
    • Blodgett
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Blodgett is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 203 people
    • New Hamburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Haywood City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Haywood City is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
    • Morley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Morley is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
    • Chaffee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Chaffee is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaffee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,901 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chaffee <1>
    • Oran
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Oran is located in Scott County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oran
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oran <1>
    • Caney Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
  • Stoddard County (MO)
    • Painton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Painton is located in Stoddard County (MO)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Painton

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

Cemeteries Near Unity ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Unity.

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

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

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

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, Unity had a post office and no railroad service.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Unity ...

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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around Unity.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Unity, 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 Unity.

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 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 Unity:

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