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 West Point (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 West Point. 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 West Point ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Point: W. Point
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Point. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Point.
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 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.
West Point is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Union, Williamson & Perry (MO).
Below are the counties that are near West Point. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Point:
- Jackson County (The home county of West Point)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Degognia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Campbell Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ava
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jacob
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oraville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Gorham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vergennes
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Murphysboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Tower
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hallidayboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Dowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Elkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- De Soto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Royalton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mulkeytown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Coello
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Willisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cutler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Denmark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Conant
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Pyatts
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Winkle
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Pinckneyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Du Quoin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Saint Johns
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Sunfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Shiloh Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Leanderville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Leanderville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leanderville
- Rockwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Welge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- Steeleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Percy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bremen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Chester
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Blair
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Blair is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair
- Menard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- New Palestine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Palestine is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Palestine
- Sparta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Kaskaskia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Kaskaskia is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaskaskia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13 people
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Marissa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lenzburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Alto Pass
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wolf Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Clarmin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Clarmin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarmin
- Oakdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Caspars
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Caspars is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspars
- Elkton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Elkton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
- Posen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Hurst
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Blairsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Bush
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Cambria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Colp
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Dewmaine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dewmaine is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewmaine
- Bollinger County (MO)
- Sedgewickville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sedgewickville is located in Bollinger County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedgewickville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Old Appleton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Old Appleton is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Appleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Shawneetown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Shawneetown is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawneetown
- Friedheim
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Daisy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Daisy is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Pocahontas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Oak Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Leemon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Leemon is located in Cape Girardeau County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemon
- Perry County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- McBride
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- McBride is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBride
- Farrar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Farrar is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrar
- Sereno
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sereno is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sereno
- Lithium
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Lithium is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithium
- Brazeau
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Brazeau is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazeau
- Eureka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Longtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Longtown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Perryville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Altenburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Frohna
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Frohna is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frohna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Uniontown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Uniontown is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Biehle
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Biehle is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biehle
- Millheim
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Millheim is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millheim
- Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Saint Mary
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Quarry Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Quarry Town is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry Town
- Quarry Town has also been known as:
- Quarrytown
- Ozora
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Ozora is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozora
- Sainte Genevieve
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Landing ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Little Rock Landing is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock Landing
- Minnith
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Minnith is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnith
- Marlo ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Marlo is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlo
- River aux Vases
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- River aux Vases is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River aux Vases
- Former name for River aux Vases:
- Staabtown
- Zell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Zell is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zell
- Clearwater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Clearwater is located in Sainte Genevieve County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearwater
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Point, see our County-by-County Page for West Point.
Cemeteries Near West Point ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Point.
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 West Point - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Point covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Rogers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Kross Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Koehn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Barrow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Isom Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Buchanan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Wilson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery is located outside and to the southwest of Campbell Hill.
- The St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Peters Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108077 <2>
- Gillespie Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mill Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Emery Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (291 more) ...
- Mt. Summit Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
While we didn't find West Point in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Point.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Point, with the one closest to West Point listed first.
- Shiloh Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shiloh Hill is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Hill
- Degognia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Degognia is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degognia
- Campbell Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rockwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ava
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Welge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Welge is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welge
- Point Rest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Point Rest is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Rest
- Steeleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kampenville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Kampenville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kampenville
- Percy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bremen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Belgique
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Belgique is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belgique
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Denmark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Cutler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Grand Eddy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Grand Eddy is located in Perry County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Eddy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Point. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Point.
Newspapers Published in West Point ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Point.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Point, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Point.
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 either 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 West Point:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Perry County
- Randolph County
- Saint Clair County
- Union County
- Washington County
- Williamson County
- Bollinger County
- Cape Girardeau County
- Perry County
- Sainte Genevieve 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> | 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 West Point, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Point) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |