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 Riley (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 Riley. 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 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.
Riley is located in Vigo 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 Vigo County: Clark (IL), Edgar (IL), Clay, Parke, Sullivan & Vermillion.
Below are the counties that are near Riley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riley:
- Vigo County (The home county of Riley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Grange Corner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grange Corner is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange Corner
- Youngstown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Youngstown is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Glen Ayre
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Glen Ayre is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Ayre
- Swalls
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Swalls is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swalls
- Pimento
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pimento is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pimento
- Seelyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Seelyville is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seelyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
- Terre Haute
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Taylorville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Taylorville is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorville
- Terre Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Terre Town is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terre Town
- Toad Hop
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Toad Hop is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toad Hop
- West Terre Haute
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lewis is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
- Prairieton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Prairieton is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieton
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Cory
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cory is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cory
- Art
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Art is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Art
- Cloverland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cloverland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverland
- Staunton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Staunton is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staunton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 502 people
- Saline City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Saline City is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Prairie City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Prairie City is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie City
- Billtown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Billtown is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billtown
- Turner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Turner is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Eel River
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Eel River is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eel River
- Center Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bee Ridge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bee Ridge is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Ridge
- Billville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Billville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billville
- Clay City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Jasonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Gilmour
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Gilmour is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmour
- Midland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Midland is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Hoosier
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hoosier is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoosier
- Linton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- White Rose
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- White Rose is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rose
- Worthington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Island City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Island City is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island City
- Switz City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Calvertville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Calvertville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvertville
- Elliston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elliston is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliston
- Lyons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tulip
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tulip is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulip
- Owen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Denmark
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Denmark is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Coal City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Coal City is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Patricksburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Patricksburg is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patricksburg
- Atkinsonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Atkinsonville is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinsonville
- Arney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Arney is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arney
- Cuba
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cuba is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Freedom
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Freedom is located in Owen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freedom
- Spencer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Parke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- West Atherton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- West Atherton is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Atherton
- Rosedale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Numa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Numa is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Bridgeton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mansfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mecca
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mecca is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecca
- Population from the 2020 Census: 325 people
- Armiesburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Armiesburg is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armiesburg
- Ferndale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ferndale is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferndale
- Billie Creek Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rockville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bellmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bellmore is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellmore
- Montezuma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Nyesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Nyesville is located in Parke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyesville
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Reelsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reelsville is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reelsville
- Putnamville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Putnamville is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnamville
- Limedale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Limedale is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limedale
- Cloverdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Greencastle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Portland Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Portland Mills is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland Mills
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Farmersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hymera
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hymera is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hymera
- Population from the 2020 Census: 758 people
- Shelburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Fairbanks
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairbanks is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
- Scott City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Scott City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Scotchtown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Scotchtown is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotchtown
- Sullivan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Dugger
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jericho
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jericho is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Gambill
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Gambill is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gambill
- Graysville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Graysville is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
- New Lebanon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Paxton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Paxton is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Vermillion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Universal
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Universal is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Universal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 339 people
- Clinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fairview Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Fairview Park is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,298 people
- Sandytown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sandytown is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandytown
- Blanford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Blanford is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanford
- Summit Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Summit Grove is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Grove
- Saint Bernice
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Bernice is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bernice
- Alta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Alta is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta
- Hillsdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Dana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Dana is located in Vermillion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Population from the 2020 Census: 564 people
- Clark County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Farrington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Farrington is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrington
- Dennison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dennison is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennison
- Weaver
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Weaver is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Livingston
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Livingston is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Snyder
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Snyder is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder
- Marshall
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- West Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Union is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- York
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- York is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Clark Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Clark Center is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark Center
- Clarksville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Clarksville is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
- Melrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Melrose is located in Clark County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Crawford County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- West York
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hutsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Trimble
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Trimble is located in Crawford County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
- Edgar County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Elbridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elbridge is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
- Nevins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nevins is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nevins
- Vermilion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kentucky
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kentucky is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentucky
- Oliver
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Oliver is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
- Huffmanville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Huffmanville is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffmanville
- Clays Prairie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clays Prairie is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Prairie
- Paris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bell Ridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bell Ridge is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Ridge
- Kidley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kidley is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kidley
- Logan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Conlogue
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Conlogue is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conlogue
- Grandview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Grandview is located in Edgar County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riley, see our County-by-County Page for Riley.
Cemeteries Near Riley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riley.
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 Riley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Jones Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Miner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cooper Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mewhinney Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hobmeyer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Armstrong Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Donham Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stagg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Swalls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (444 more) ...
- Grandview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Highland Lawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Riley had a population of 479 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Riley had a population of 217 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Youngstown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Youngstown is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngstown
- Cory
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cory is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cory
- Swalls
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Swalls is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swalls
- Pimento
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pimento is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pimento
- Art
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Art is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Art
- Seelyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Seelyville is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seelyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,004 people
- Terre Haute
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Staunton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Staunton is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staunton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 502 people
- Cloverland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cloverland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverland
- Markles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Markles is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markles
- Lewis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lewis is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
- Saline City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Saline City is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline City
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Prairieton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Prairieton is located in Vigo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieton
- Farmersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Eel River
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Eel River is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eel River
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riley.
Newspapers Published in Riley ...
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 147 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riley, 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 Riley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Riley:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Vigo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Greene County
- Owen County
- Parke County
- Putnam County
- Sullivan County
- Vermillion County
- Clark County
- Crawford 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 Riley, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Riley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |