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 University (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 University. 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 doctors and 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.
University is located in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County: Franklin, Gallatin, Jefferson, Saline, Wayne, White & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near University. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to University:
- Hamilton County (The home county of University)
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Walpole
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Dale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Broughton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Flint
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Macedonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Diamond City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Lovilla
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Piopolis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Dahlgren
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Belle Prairie City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Akin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Thompsonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Fitt's Hill ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Fitt's Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitt's Hill
- Parrish
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Hanaford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Smothersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Frisco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Taylor Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Deering City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Deering City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering City
- Steel City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- Ewing
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Benton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Gallatin County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Omaha
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Elba
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elba is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Equality
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ridgway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lawler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lawler is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawler
- Inman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Inman is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inman
- Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- New Haven
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Shawneetown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bowlesville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bowlesville is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlesville
- Old Shawneetown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Shawneetown is located in Gallatin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Shawneetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 164 people
- Hardin County
- Karbers Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Belle Rive
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ina
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Bonnie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Opdyke
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Nason
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dareville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Bluford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Markham City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Markham City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
- Emerson City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Marlow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Marlow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Marcoe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- New Burnside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Ozark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Egyptian Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Egyptian Hills is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egyptian Hills
- Eagle Point Bay
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eagle Point Bay is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point Bay
- Reynoldsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Reynoldsburg is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsburg
- Deer Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Ridge is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Ridge
- Pope County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Oak
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Oak is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
- Herod
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McCormick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McCormick is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCormick
- Hartsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hartsville is located in Pope County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
- Eddyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Cornerville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Raleigh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Texas City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Texas City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Texas City
- Eldorado
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Muddy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saline City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saline City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Wasson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
- Buena Vista
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Gaskins City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gaskins City is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskins City
- Harrisburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Keenes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Barnhill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sims
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Boyleston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Boyleston is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Norris City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Roland
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Roland is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roland
- Enfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Stokes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Springerton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Herald
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mill Shoals
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Emma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Carmi
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Burnt Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Hartford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hartford is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Corinth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Pittsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Johnston City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Whiteash
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Stiritz
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Spillertown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Spillertown is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spillertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Freeman Spur
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Marion
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Herrin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Creal Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to University, see our County-by-County Page for University.
Cemeteries Near University ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of University.
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 University - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for University covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Good Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Winn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Durham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- McFarland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hall Town Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cardwell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Barton Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Old Ruff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cartwright Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lampley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Brooks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rhine Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (493 more) ...
- Roberts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Barker Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Knights Prairie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.<2>
While we didn't find University in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of University.
These communities are listed based on their distance from University, with the one closest to University listed first.
- Walpole
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Rural Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rural Hill is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural Hill
- Long Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Olga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Olga is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olga
- Braden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Braden is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- West End
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- West End is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
- Galatia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Locust Grove ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Locust Grove is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
- Raleigh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Broughton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hoodville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hoodville is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Akin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Flint
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Thompsonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around University. See our List of 1890's Communities around University.
Newspapers Published in University ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around University.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of University, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for University.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 University:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Hamilton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Gallatin County
- Hardin County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Pope County
- Saline County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson 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> | 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 University, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- University) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |