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 Westport (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 Westport. 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 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 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.
Westport is located in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County: Crawford, Richland, Wabash & Knox (IN).
Below are the counties that are near Westport. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westport:
- Lawrence County (The home county of Westport)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Birds
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bridgeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lawrenceville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sumner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Russellville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Billett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Billett is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billett
- Helena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Helena is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
- Petersburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Saint Francisville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Clark County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- York
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- York is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Hogue Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hogue Town is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogue Town
- Melrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Melrose is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- West Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- West Union is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Oak Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Point is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Clay County
- Ingraham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Villas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Villas is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villas
- Oil Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oil Grove is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Grove
- Flat Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hardinville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hardinville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
- Landes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Landes is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
- New Hebron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- New Hebron is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
- Duncanville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Duncanville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Green Brier
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Green Brier is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Brier
- Oil Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oil Center is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil Center
- Heathsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Heathsville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathsville
- Robinson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Stoy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Cumberland County
- Hazel Dell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hazel Dell is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazel Dell
- Edwards County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Mills Prairie ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mills Prairie is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Prairie
- West Salem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Salem is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
- Marion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Marion is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Maple Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Bennington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bennington is located in Edwards County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
- Bone Gap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Sainte Marie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Liberty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- West Liberty is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
- Willow Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hunt City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hunt City is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt City
- Newton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Yale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Falmouth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Falmouth is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Bogota
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bogota is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogota
- Rose Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Lis
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lis is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lis
- Hidalgo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Amity
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Amity is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Claremont
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dundas
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Berryville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Olney
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Calhoun
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Parkersburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gallagher
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gallagher is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
- Noble
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Passport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Passport is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
- Wakefield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wakefield is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
- Wynoose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wynoose is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
- Wabash County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Orio
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Orio is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orio
- Allendale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lancaster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lancaster is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
- Adams Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Adams Corner is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
- Patton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Patton is located in Wabash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patton
- Mount Carmel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Davies's County (IN)
- Capehart
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Capehart is located in Davies's County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capehart
- Gibson County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Giro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Giro is located in Gibson County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giro
- Hazleton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Patoka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Patoka is located in Gibson County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 784 people
- Knox County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Busseron
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Busseron is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busseron
- Vincennes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oaktown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Beal
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Beal is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal
- Bruceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Fritchton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fritchton is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fritchton
- Verne
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Verne is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verne
- Bicknell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Freelandville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Freelandville is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freelandville
- Ragsdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ragsdale is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ragsdale
- Decker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Decker is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 244 people
- Monroe City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe City is located in Knox County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
- Pike County (IN)
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union is located in Pike County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Sullivan County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Merom
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Carlisle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Lebanon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Graysville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Graysville is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
- Paxton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Paxton is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Sullivan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairbanks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairbanks is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
- Jericho
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jericho is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Scott City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Scott City is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Gambill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gambill is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gambill
- Scotchtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Scotchtown is located in Sullivan County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotchtown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westport, see our County-by-County Page for Westport.
Cemeteries Near Westport ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westport.
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 Westport - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westport covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Charlottesville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mickey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Port Jackson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Morris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pollard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cotton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Conover Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bluffs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dollahan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Nuttle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Goines Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Good Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (441 more) ...
- Cecedar Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Richart Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Portee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Westport had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
- Birds
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Villas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Villas is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villas
- Pinkstaff
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pinkstaff is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkstaff
- Chauncey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Chauncey is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chauncey
- Bridgeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lawrenceville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hardinville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hardinville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardinville
- Landes
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Landes is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landes
- New Hebron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- New Hebron is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hebron
- Amity
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Amity is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Sumner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Morea
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Morea is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morea
- Duncanville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Duncanville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncanville
- Heathsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Heathsville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathsville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westport. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westport.
Newspapers Published in Westport ...
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 155 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westport.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westport, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westport.
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 Westport:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Lawrence County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Clay County
- Crawford County
- Cumberland County
- Edwards County
- Jasper County
- Richland County
- Wabash County
- Davies's County
- Gibson County
- Knox County
- Pike County
- Sullivan 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 Westport, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Westport) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |