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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 Alta (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 Alta. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Alta is located in Vermillion County.

To see how the shape of Indiana's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Vermillion County: Edgar (IL), Vermilion (IL), Fountain, Parke, Vigo & Warren.

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

  • Vermillion County     (The home county of Alta)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
    • Hillsdale
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Hillsdale is located in Vermillion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Summit Grove
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Fairview Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Fairview Park is located in Vermillion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,298 people
    • Dana
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Newport
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Sandytown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Clinton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Saint Bernice
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Blanford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Universal
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Universal is located in Vermillion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Universal
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 339 people
    • Cayuga
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Cayuga is located in Vermillion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,095 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cayuga <1>
    • Eugene
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
    • Perth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lena
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Bee Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Carbon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Carbon is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 379 people
    • Benwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Cloverland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Billtown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brazil
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Staunton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Staunton is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staunton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 502 people
    • Turner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Billville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Harmony
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Harmony is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 639 people
  • Fountain County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
    • Kingman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Harveysburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Wallace
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Wallace is located in Fountain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
    • Layton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Veedersburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Covington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Hillsboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Stone Bluff
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Mellott
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mellott is located in Fountain County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
    • Waveland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Alamo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Alamo is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
    • New Market
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • New Market is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 622 people
    • Waynetown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Yountsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • North Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wesley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Parke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
    • Montezuma
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Armiesburg
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Mecca
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Mecca is located in Parke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
    • West Union
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Bloomingdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Billie Creek Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Billie Creek Village is located in Parke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billie Creek Village
    • Annapolis
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Numa
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Nyesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Marshall
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Marshall is located in Parke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
    • Rosedale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
    • Portland Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Portland Mills is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland Mills
    • Russellville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Blakesburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Reelsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Reelsville is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reelsville
    • Limedale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Greencastle
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Bainbridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Putnamville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Putnamville is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnamville
  • Vigo County
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
    • Foster
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Baltimore ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • State Line City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • State Line City is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
    • State Line
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Clark County (IL)
  • Edgar County (IL)
  • Vermilion County (IL)

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

Cemeteries Near Alta ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alta.

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

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

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

  • Highland Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Armiesburg Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Dinsmore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Pisgah Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Helts Prairie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hixon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Arabia Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Hollingsworth Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Bogart Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Andrews Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (409 more) ...
    • Watts Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Bales Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Higbie Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)

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

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

  • Highland
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Montezuma
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Armiesburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Summit Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Mecca
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mecca is located in Parke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecca
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
  • Leatherwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Leatherwood is located in Parke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
  • Coloma
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Coloma is located in Parke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coloma
  • West Union
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Toronto
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Toronto is located in Vermillion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toronto
  • Dana
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Hudnut
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Hudnut is located in Parke County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudnut
  • Newport
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Alta ...

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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alta.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alta, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alta.

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 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 Alta:

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 Alta, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Alta) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.