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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 Wayne City (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 Wayne City. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Wayne City is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Clay, Edwards, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Richland & White.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Wayne City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Keenes
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Sims
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Boyleston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Geff
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeffersonville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Barnhill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Fairfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Johnsonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Cisne
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Rinard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Enterprise
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Golden Gate
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Kenner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Xenia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Flora
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Camp Travis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Ellery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Bennington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Albion
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Maple Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Marion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Red Top
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Red Top is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Top
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Frisco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Frisco is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
    • Taylor Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
    • Ewing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Whittington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Akin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Steel City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Steel City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
    • Benton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hanaford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hanaford is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
    • Parrish
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Parrish is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
    • Rend City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Rend City is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
    • Sesser
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Smothersville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Smothersville is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Belle Prairie City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Piopolis
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Dahlgren
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lovilla
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Bungay
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Diamond City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
    • McLeansboro
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Flint
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Macedonia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Dale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Walpole
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Walpole is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Markham City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Bluford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Shields
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Belle Rive
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlow
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Opdyke
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Summersville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Mount Vernon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Texico
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Idlewood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Bonnie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Kell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Cartter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Iuka
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bannister
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Omega
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Walnut Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Salem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Gallagher
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
  • Saline County
    • Cornerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Cornerville is located in Saline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
  • Washington County
    • Baldwin Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wayne City, with the one closest to Wayne City listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Springerton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Enfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Carmi
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Stokes
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stokes is located in White County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
    • Norris City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Wayne City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wayne City.

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 Wayne City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Thomason Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bruce Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Egbert Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Baltimore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Trotter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Cincinnati Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (439 more) ...
    • Atteberry Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Tyler Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bull Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Wayne City had a population of 450 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Wayne City had a population of 983 people.

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

  • Keenes
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Sims
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Mayberry
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mayberry is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayberry
  • Boyleston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
  • Bluford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Belle Rive
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Dahlgren
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Orchardville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Piopolis
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
  • Geff
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Jeffersonville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Marlow
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Opdyke
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hubbard
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Hubbard is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbard

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wayne City ...

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 115 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wayne City.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wayne City. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wayne City and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wayne City.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3> of Wayne City.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Wayne City:

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 Wayne City, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wayne City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.