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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 Zenith (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 Zenith. 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.

Zenith is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Clay, Edwards, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Richland & White.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Zenith)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Johnsonville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Rinard
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Cisne
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Sims
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Wayne City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Geff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jeffersonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people
    • Enterprise
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Enterprise is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Keenes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Boyleston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Boyleston is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyleston
    • Fairfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Erie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Barnhill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Xenia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Kenner
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Kenner is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Flora
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Louisville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Camp Travis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Travis is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Travis
    • Clay City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Iola
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Sailor Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Ingraham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Clinton County
    • Centralia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Edwards County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Bennington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bennington is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Marion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Marion is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
    • Maple Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Maple Grove is located in Edwards County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Ellery
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Effingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Edgewood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Mason
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Mason is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 333 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
    • Gilmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Gilmore is located in Effingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Farina
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • La Clede
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • La Clede is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Clede
    • Saint Peter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Loogootee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Paul
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Paul is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Belle Prairie City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
    • Dahlgren
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Piopolis
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
    • Lovilla
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
    • Jefferson City ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Jefferson City is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
    • Bungay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bungay is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bungay
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Shields
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Shields is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
    • Pigeon ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Bluford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Markham City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Markham City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham City
    • Texico
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Dix
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Dix is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dix
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dix <1>
    • Marlow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlow is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Idlewood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
    • Summersville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Summersville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summersville
    • Opdyke
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Belle Rive
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Mount Vernon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jefferson City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Hickory Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
    • Union Town
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Union Town is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
    • Iuka
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Omega
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Omega is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Bannister
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Bannister is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
    • Cartter
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Cartter is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
    • Kell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Salem
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Alma
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Kinmundy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Odin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Odin is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Odin <1>
    • Walnut Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Central City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Central City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Wynoose
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Wynoose is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wynoose
    • Noble
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Gallagher
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Gallagher is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher
    • Passport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Passport is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passport
    • Wakefield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wakefield is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakefield
    • Parkersburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Wamac
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Wamac is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
    • Baldwin Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
    • Irvington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • White County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Zenith, with the one closest to Zenith listed first.
    • Mill Shoals
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Burnt Prairie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Springerton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Zenith ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Zenith.

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

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

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

  • Harrell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Cisne Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Henson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Jacob Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Russell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Johnsonville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • New Liberty Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Burroughs Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (458 more) ...
    • Harmon Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Christian Home Baptist Church Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Wolfe Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)

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 Zenith in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Zenith.

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

  • Orchardville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Orchardville is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchardville
  • Johnsonville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Xenia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Hickory Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
  • Kenner
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Kenner is located in Clay County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
  • Rinard
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Cisne
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Iuka
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Flora
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Pigeon ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Pigeon is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
  • Divide
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Divide is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Divide
  • Wayne City
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sims
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Geff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jeffersonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jeffersonville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffersonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 350 people

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

Newspapers Published in Zenith ...

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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Zenith.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Zenith, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Zenith.

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 websites either 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 Zenith:

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