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 Pontiac (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 Pontiac. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Pontiac is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Greene, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan & Vigo.
Below are the counties that are near Pontiac. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pontiac:
- Clay County (The home county of Pontiac)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Carbon
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Carbon is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 379 people
- Lena
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lena is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Benwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Benwood is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benwood
- Perth
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Perth is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perth
- Brazil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Knightsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Knightsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knightsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 769 people
- Harmony
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 639 people
- Bee Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bee Ridge is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Ridge
- Billville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Billville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billville
- Turner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Turner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Billtown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Billtown is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billtown
- Cloverland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverland
- Fountain County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Kingman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wallace
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wallace is located in Fountain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 83 people
- Harveysburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Harveysburg is located in Fountain County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveysburg
- Greene County
- Jasonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hendricks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Coatesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Reno
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Reno is located in Hendricks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
- Stilesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Amo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- New Winchester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Winchester is located in Hendricks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Winchester
- Hadley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hadley is located in Hendricks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Waveland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Alamo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- 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 north)
- New Market is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
- Population from the 2020 Census: 622 people
- Ladoga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Union
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Union is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Union
- Yountsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Yountsville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yountsville
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Minetree ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Minetree is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minetree
- Minetree has also been known as:
- Billtown
- Meintree
- Menietree
- Eminence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Eminence is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eminence
- Lewisville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lewisville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
- Plano
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Plano is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plano
- Owen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Atkinsonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Atkinsonville is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinsonville
- Patricksburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Patricksburg is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patricksburg
- Denmark
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Denmark is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Cuba
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cuba is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Quincy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Quincy is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Coal City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Coal City is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Arney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Arney is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arney
- Spencer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Freedom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Freedom is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freedom
- Gosport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Bridgeton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mansfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ferndale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ferndale is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferndale
- Rosedale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Rosedale is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 704 people
- Rosedale has also been known as:
- Roseville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rosedale <1>
- Bellmore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Bellmore is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellmore
- Billie Creek Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Nyesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Nyesville is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyesville
- Rockville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Numa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Numa is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- West Atherton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- West Atherton is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Atherton
- Mecca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mecca is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
- Judson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Judson is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judson
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Reelsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Reelsville is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reelsville
- Limedale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Limedale is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limedale
- Putnamville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Putnamville is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnamville
- Greencastle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Portland Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Portland Mills is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland Mills
- Cloverdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Blakesburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Blakesburg is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakesburg
- Russellville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Russellville is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Fillmore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fillmore is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 531 people
- Bainbridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bainbridge is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 743 people
- Belle Union
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Belle Union is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Union
- Groveland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Groveland is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Farmersburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hymera
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hymera is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hymera
- Population from the 2020 Census: 758 people
- Vermillion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Clinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fairview Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview Park is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,298 people
- Summit Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Summit Grove is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Grove
- Universal
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Universal is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Universal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 339 people
- Sandytown
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sandytown is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandytown
- Alta
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Alta is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Hillsdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Blanford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Blanford is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanford
- Saint Bernice
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Saint Bernice is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bernice
- Dana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dana is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 564 people
- Newport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cayuga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vigo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Fontanet
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fontanet is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanet
- Burnett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Burnett is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnett
- Seelyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Seelyville is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seelyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
- Sandcut
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sandcut is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandcut
- Glen Ayre
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Ayre is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Ayre
- Grange Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grange Corner is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange Corner
- Swalls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Swalls is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swalls
- North Terre Haute
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- North Terre Haute is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Terre Haute
- Terre Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Terre Town is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Town
- Shepardsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Shepardsville is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Spelterville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Spelterville is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spelterville
- Harrison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Harrison is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Clark County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Farrington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Farrington is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrington
- Dennison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dennison is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennison
- Weaver
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Weaver is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Livingston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Livingston is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Edgar County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Huffmanville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Huffmanville is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffmanville
- Kidley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kidley is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kidley
- Clays Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Clays Prairie is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Prairie
- Vermilion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Elbridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elbridge is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
- Kentucky
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Kentucky is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentucky
- Raven
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Raven is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Logan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Nevins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Nevins is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevins
- Scottland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Scottland is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottland
- Oliver
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Oliver is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
- Paris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pontiac, see our County-by-County Page for Pontiac.
Cemeteries Near Pontiac ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pontiac.
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 Pontiac - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pontiac covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Pell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Girton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Poff Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Orchard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sampson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Owens Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Calcutta Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Archer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Perth Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Stunkard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Restlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Restlawn Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Restlawn Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Brazil.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1974928 <2>
- Continue List (423 more) ...
- Carter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Redman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Clear Run Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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 Pontiac in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pontiac.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pontiac, with the one closest to Pontiac listed first.
- Carbon
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Carbon is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 379 people
- Cardonia
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cardonia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardonia
- Lena
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lena is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
- Benwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Benwood is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benwood
- Perth
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Perth is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perth
- Brazil
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Knightsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Knightsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knightsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 769 people
- Harmony
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Population from the 2020 Census: 639 people
- Bridgeton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mansfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Coal Bluff
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Coal Bluff is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Bluff
- Turner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Turner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Fontanet
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fontanet is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontanet
- Hoosierville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hoosierville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoosierville
- Cloverland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pontiac. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pontiac.
Newspapers Published in Pontiac ...
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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pontiac.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pontiac, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pontiac.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Pontiac:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fountain County
- Greene County
- Hendricks County
- Montgomery County
- Morgan County
- Owen County
- Parke County
- Putnam County
- Sullivan County
- Vermillion County
- Vigo County
- Clark County
- Edgar County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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 Pontiac, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Pontiac) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |