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 Williamson (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 Williamson. 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 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.
Williamson is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Bond, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Saint Clair, Saint Charles (MO), Saint Louis City (MO) & Saint Louis (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Williamson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williamson:
- Madison County (The home county of Williamson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Livingston
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- New Douglas
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Worden
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Alhambra
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hamel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prairietown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Prairietown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
- Grantfork
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grantfork is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
- Fruit
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fruit is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruit
- Dorsey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Marine
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Moro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Edwardsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bethalto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Sorento
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Old Ripley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Ripley is located in Bond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Reno
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Reno is located in Bond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Pocahontas
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pierron
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Greenville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Smithboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Mound
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Mound is located in Bond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Mound
- Mulberry Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Saint Rose
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Rose is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Rose
- Aviston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Trenton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Breese
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marydale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marydale is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marydale
- Fayette County
- Bingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Greene County
- Rockbridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jersey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Fidelity
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Delhi
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Delhi is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
- Dow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- McClusky
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- McClusky is located in Jersey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClusky
- Macoupin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Staunton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- White City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- White City is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
- Mount Olive
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sawyerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Benld
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lake Ka-ho
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lake Ka-ho is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ka-ho
- Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
- Lake Ka-ho has also been known as:
- Lake Ka-Ho village
- Wilsonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eagarville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mount Clare
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Clare is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clare
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Dorchester
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- East Gillespie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- East Gillespie is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gillespie
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Gillespie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bunker Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Walshville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Panama
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Litchfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Donnellson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Taylor Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Honey Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Honey Bend is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Bend
- Butler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Shop Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Shop Creek is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shop Creek
- Hillsboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Schram City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Schram City is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schram City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 542 people
- Coffeen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Irving
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Chapman is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Lebanon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Summerfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- O'Fallon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Petersburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Petersburg is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Caseyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bunkum
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bunkum is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunkum
- Fairmont City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairmont City is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmont City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,439 people
- Fairview Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Washington Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Washington Park is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,831 people
- Shiloh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- French Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- French Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Village
- Saint Charles County (MO)
- West Alton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Saint Louis County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Spanish Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spanish Lake is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spanish Lake
- Glasgow Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Glasgow Village is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow Village
- Bellefontaine Neighbors
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bellefontaine Neighbors is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefontaine Neighbors
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,297 people
- Black Jack
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Black Jack is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,921 people
- Riverview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Riverview is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,821 people
- Castle Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Castle Point is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Point
- Moline Acres
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Moline Acres is located in Saint Louis County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,339 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williamson, see our County-by-County Page for Williamson.
Cemeteries Near Williamson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williamson.
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 Williamson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williamson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Spangle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Old St. Michaels Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Olive Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Memorial Park Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Vincent Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- McCaughey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sandbach Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Meadow View Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hoxsey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (420 more) ...
- Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Cemetery
- The Salem Cemetery has also been known as:
- Salem Evangelical Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108106 <2>
- New Douglas City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Ubaldus Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Williamson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Williamson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williamson, with the one closest to Williamson listed first.
- Staunton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Worden
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- New Douglas
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mount Olive
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alhambra
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Kaufman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kaufman is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaufman
- Prairietown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Prairietown is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairietown
- Carpenter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Carpenter is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Walshville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dorchester
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dorchester is located in Macoupin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Gillespie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sorento
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Bunker Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Fruit
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fruit is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruit
- Grantfork
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grantfork is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantfork
- Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williamson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williamson.
Newspapers Published in Williamson ...
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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williamson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williamson, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williamson.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Williamson:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bond County
- Clinton County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Jersey County
- Macoupin County
- Montgomery County
- Saint Clair County
- Saint Charles County
- Saint Louis 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 Williamson, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Williamson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |