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 Whittington (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 Whittington. 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 and 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.
Whittington is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Saline & Williamson.
Below are the counties that are near Whittington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Whittington:
- Franklin County (The home county of Whittington)
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Ewing
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Taylor Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Benton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Frisco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Steel City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Steel City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
- West City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- West City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 626 people
- Rend City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Sesser
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Smothersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Hanaford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hanaford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanaford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 316 people
- Buckner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Valier
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Akin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Macedonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lovilla
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Dahlgren
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Flint
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Diamond City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- Piopolis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- McLeansboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Belle Prairie City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Walpole
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Walpole is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walpole
- Dale
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Broughton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bungay
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bungay is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Dowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hallidayboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- De Soto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vergennes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Carbondale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oraville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Ina
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Nason
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bonnie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Dareville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Emerson City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Waltonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Marcoe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Scheller
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Belle Rive
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Opdyke
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vernon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Summersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Summersville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Kell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Walnut Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hickory Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Union Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Union Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Du Quoin
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Sunfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Tamaroa
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pinckneyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pyatts
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Saline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Cornerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cornerville is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerville
- Long Branch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Galatia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Raleigh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Muddy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wasson is located in Saline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasson
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Du Bois
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Radom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Richview
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Posen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Irvington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Keenes
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sims
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Enfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Springerton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Freeman Spur
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Stiritz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Johnston City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Corinth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Corinth is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Herrin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Whiteash
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Whiteash is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteash
- Estimated population in 2014: 240 people
- Pittsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bush
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Colp
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- Hurst
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Energy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Blairsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Whittington, see our County-by-County Page for Whittington.
Cemeteries Near Whittington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whittington.
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 Whittington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Whittington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Cypher Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Winemiller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- King Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Franklin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wayman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Drummond Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Overturf Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Thurmond Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Moser Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Browning Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Miller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (457 more) ...
- Phillips Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fitzgerrell 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.<3>
While we didn't find Whittington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Whittington.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Whittington, with the one closest to Whittington listed first.
- Ewing
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Benton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Taylor Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Spring Garden
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Buckner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Smothersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Smothersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smothersville
- Akin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Christopher
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Parrish
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parrish is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrish
- Macedonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mulkeytown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Frankfort
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Frankfort is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
- Belle Rive
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Opdyke
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Whittington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Whittington.
Newspapers Published in Whittington ...
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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Whittington.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Whittington, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Whittington.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Whittington:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hamilton County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Saline County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- White County
- Williamson 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 Whittington, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Whittington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |