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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 Westview Acres (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 Westview Acres. 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 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.

Westview Acres is located in Fulton 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 Fulton County: Knox, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Schuyler, Tazewell & Warren.

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

  • Fulton County     (The home county of Westview Acres)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westview Acres, with the one closest to Westview Acres listed first.
    • Canton
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Brereton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Brereton is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brereton
    • Norris
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Saint David
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dunfermline
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Breeds
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Breeds is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
    • Fiatt
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Fairview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Bryant
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Bybee
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Bybee is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
    • Banner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cuba
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
  • Knox County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westview Acres, with the one closest to Westview Acres listed first.
    • Yates City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Maquon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Gilson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • De Long
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • De Long is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Long
    • Saint Augustine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Abingdon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Dahinda
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Williamsfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Appleton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Appleton is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appleton
    • Knoxville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Knox
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Knox is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
    • East Galesburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • East Galesburg is located in Knox County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Galesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westview Acres, with the one closest to Westview Acres listed first.
    • Buzzville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Buzzville is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzville
    • Goofy Ridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Goofy Ridge is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goofy Ridge
    • Topeka
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Forest City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Manito
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Union
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Havana
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Poplar City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Long Branch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Easton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bath
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Teheran
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
  • McDonough County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westview Acres, with the one closest to Westview Acres listed first.
    • New Philadelphia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • New Philadelphia is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Philadelphia
    • Prairie City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Prairie City is located in McDonough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
    • Bushnell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Adair
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bardolph
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Peoria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westview Acres, with the one closest to Westview Acres listed first.
    • Glasford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Trivoli
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston Mines
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Elmwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Hanna City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Brimfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Edwards
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Maxwell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Maxwell is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
    • Norwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 447 people
    • Bartonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Bellevue
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellevue is located in Peoria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,037 people
  • Schuyler County
    • Bluff City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Bluff City is located in Schuyler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westview Acres, with the one closest to Westview Acres listed first.
    • Radville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Radville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radville
    • Talbott
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Talbott is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
    • Parkland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Parkland is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland
    • Stoehrs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Stoehrs is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoehrs
    • Powerton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Powerton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powerton
    • Crescent
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Crescent is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Midway
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Midway is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Hawley ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Hawley is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
    • Pekin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,808 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pekin <1>
    • South Pekin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • South Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
    • North Pekin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • North Pekin is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pekin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
      • Former name for North Pekin:
      • Radio City
    • Schaeferville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Schaeferville is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schaeferville
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westview Acres, with the one closest to Westview Acres listed first.
    • Berwick
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Youngstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Youngstown is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown

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

Cemeteries Near Westview Acres ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westview Acres.

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 Westview Acres - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • White Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Shields Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Locust Lane Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Gardiner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Thompson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Highbridge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Orendorff Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (334 more) ...
    • Breeds Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Wolf Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hanson Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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 Westview Acres in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westview Acres.

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

  • Canton
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Rawalts
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Rawalts is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawalts
  • Civer ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Civer is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Civer
  • Saint David
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Norris
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Dunfermline
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Monterey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Monterey is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
  • Breeds
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Breeds is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeds
  • Fiatt
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Bryant
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Fairview
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Bybee
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Bybee is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bybee
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Cuba
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Cuba is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,149 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Banner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Maples Mill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Maples Mill is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maples Mill

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

Newspapers Published in Westview Acres ...

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 124 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westview Acres.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westview Acres, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westview Acres.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Westview Acres:

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 Westview Acres, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Westview Acres) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.