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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Westminster. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Westminster to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Westminster, please Contact Us.

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 Westminster (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 Westminster. 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 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Westminster is historic, it would have been located within present day Shelby 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 Shelby County: Christian, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Montgomery & Moultrie.

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

  • Shelby County     (The home county of Westminster)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westminster, with the one closest to Westminster listed first.
    • Tower Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakewood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
    • Oconee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Herrick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Shelbyville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Cowden
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Yantisville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Yantisville is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
    • Fancher
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Fancher is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancher
    • Middlesworth
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
    • Mode
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mode is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mode
    • Findlay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Moweaqua
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Strasburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westminster, with the one closest to Westminster listed first.
    • Pana
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Pana is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <2>
    • Rosamond
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Millersville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Millersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
    • Assumption
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Owaneco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Velma
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Velma is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
    • Sandersville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandersville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
    • Taylorville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Clarksdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Clarksdale is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
    • Stonington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Langleyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
    • Palmer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Morrisonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Cumberland County
    • Neoga
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Neoga is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neoga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,585 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Neoga <2>
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westminster, with the one closest to Westminster listed first.
    • Beecher City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Beecher City is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 451 people
    • Moccasin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Moccasin is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moccasin
    • Shumway
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Altamont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Dexter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Dexter is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
    • Funkhouser
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Funkhouser is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Funkhouser
    • Green Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Green Creek is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
    • Effingham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Gilmore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westminster, with the one closest to Westminster listed first.
    • Dressor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Holliday
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday
    • Ramsey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayle City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bayle City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayle City
    • Bingham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Avena
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Avena is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avena
    • Howards Point ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Howards Point is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howards Point
    • Saint Elmo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Brownstown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Vandalia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Bluff City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Bluff City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Hagarstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westminster, with the one closest to Westminster listed first.
    • Blue Mound
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Macon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Boody
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Elwin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Hervey City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Hervey City is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
    • Mount Zion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Turpin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Turpin is located in Macon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westminster, with the one closest to Westminster listed first.
    • Ohlman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Nokomis
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Wenonah
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Wenonah is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenonah
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
    • Coalton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Coalton is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 282 people
    • Witt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Witt is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Witt <2>
    • Fillmore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Chapman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Chapman is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
    • Irving
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Coffeen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hillsboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Schram City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Schram City is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
    • Harvel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Moultrie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westminster, with the one closest to Westminster listed first.
    • Bethany
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Dunn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dunn is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Dalton City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Sullivan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Gays
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Gays is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gays <2>
    • Allenville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Allenville is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
    • Cushman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cushman is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
    • Coles
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Coles is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
    • Lake City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake City is located in Moultrie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City

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

Cemeteries Near Westminster ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westminster.

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

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

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

  • Eiler Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Liston Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Tower Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • New Hope Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • McCoy Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Linwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Middlesworth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Methodist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bateman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Mound Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Horsman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (397 more) ...
    • Ridge Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Robinson Creek Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Knobs Baptist Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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.

While we didn't find Westminster in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westminster.

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

  • Tower Hill
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Lakewood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lakewood is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
  • Pana
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Pana is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pana
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pana <2>
  • Oconee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Dunkel
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dunkel is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkel
  • Henton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Henton is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henton
  • Herrick
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Rosamond
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Cowden
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Shelbyville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Millersville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Millersville is located in Christian County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersville
  • Assumption
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Ohlman
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Dressor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Dressor is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dressor
    • Holliday
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Holliday is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holliday

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

Newspapers Published in Westminster ...

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 76 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westminster.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westminster, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westminster.

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 Westminster:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Westminster, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Westminster) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.