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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 Bloomington (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 Bloomington. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Bloomington is located in Monroe County and is the County Seat.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Monroe County: Brown, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan & Owen.

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

  • Monroe County     (The home county of Bloomington)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
    • Highland Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Highland Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
      • Highland Village is located in Monroe County
    • Clear Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dolan
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Ellettsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ellettsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellettsville
      • Ellettsville is located in Monroe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,706 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ellettsville <3>
    • Smithville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Unionville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Unionville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
      • Unionville is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Unionville <3>
    • Kirksville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Stanford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Harrodsburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harrodsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrodsburg
      • Harrodsburg is located in Monroe County
    • Stinesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stinesville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinesville
      • Stinesville is located in Monroe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
  • Bartholomew County
  • Brown County
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
    • Bowling Green
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bowling Green have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowling Green
      • Bowling Green is located in Clay County
    • Poland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Greene County
  • Jackson County
  • Johnson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
    • Peoga
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Peoga have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoga
      • Peoga is located in Johnson County
    • Samaria
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Anita ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Anita. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anita
      • Anita is located in Johnson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Anita
      • From Bloomington to Anita
    • Princes Lakes
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Princes Lakes have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princes Lakes
      • Princes Lakes is located in Johnson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,342 people
    • Trafalgar
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Nineveh
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Banta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Banta have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banta
      • Banta is located in Johnson County
    • Providence
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lawrence County
  • Martin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
    • Mount Olive
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Crane
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crane have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crane
      • Crane is located in Martin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Crane <3>
    • Burns City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Burns City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns City
      • Burns City is located in Martin County
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
    • Paragon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Paragon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paragon
      • Paragon is located in Morgan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 676 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Paragon <3>
    • Taggart Crossing ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Martinsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Morgantown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morgantown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgantown
      • Morgantown is located in Morgan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 992 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morgantown <3>
    • Lewisville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Plano
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Wilbur
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wilbur. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbur
      • Wilbur is located in Morgan County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wilbur
      • From Bloomington to Wilbur
    • Eminence
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eminence have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eminence
      • Eminence is located in Morgan County
    • Minetree ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Minetree. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minetree
      • Minetree is located in Morgan County
      • Minetree has also been known as:
      • Billtown
      • Meintree
      • Menietree
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Minetree
      • From Bloomington to Minetree
    • Bethany
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bethany have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
      • Bethany is located in Morgan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
    • Hall
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Brooklyn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brooklyn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
      • Brooklyn is located in Morgan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,472 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brooklyn <3>
  • Owen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
    • Gosport
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gosport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosport
      • Gosport is located in Owen County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 797 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gosport <3>
    • Spencer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spencer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
      • Spencer is located in Owen County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,262 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Spencer <3>
    • Freedom
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Cuba
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cuba. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Cuba is located in Owen County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cuba
      • From Bloomington to Cuba
    • Arney
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Quincy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Quincy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
      • Quincy is located in Owen County
    • Atkinsonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Patricksburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Patricksburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patricksburg
      • Patricksburg is located in Owen County
    • Denmark
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Coal City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
    • Cloverdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Belle Union
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Bloomington ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bloomington.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bloomington had a population of 4,018 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bloomington had a population of 85,603 people.

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

  • Clear Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Smithville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Ellettsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ellettsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellettsville
    • Ellettsville is located in Monroe County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,706 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ellettsville <3>
  • Victor
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Victor have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
    • Victor is located in Monroe County
  • Unionville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Unionville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
    • Unionville is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Unionville <3>
  • Whitehall
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Whitehall have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
    • Whitehall is located in Owen County
  • Hendricksville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Stanford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Kirksville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Harrodsburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harrodsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrodsburg
    • Harrodsburg is located in Monroe County
  • Fleener
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fleener have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleener
    • Fleener is located in Monroe County
  • Buenavista
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buenavista have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenavista
    • Buenavista is located in Monroe County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Fairfax
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairfax have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
      • Fairfax is located in Monroe County
    • Needmore
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Needmore have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
      • Needmore is located in Brown County
    • Stinesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stinesville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinesville
      • Stinesville is located in Monroe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bloomington ...

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 119 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bloomington.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bloomington. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bloomington and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bloomington.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<6> of Bloomington.

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 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 Bloomington:

The official website for Bloomington: www.city.bloomington.in.us/

The official website for Monroe County: www.co.monroe.in.us/

The official website for State of Indiana: https://www.in.gov

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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 Bloomington, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bloomington) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Bloomington. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.1656, Longitude: -86.5268    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 21 Apr 2025