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 Philadelphia (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 Philadelphia. 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.
Philadelphia is located in Marion County.
To see how the shape of Missouri's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Marion County: Adams (IL), Pike (IL), Lewis, Monroe, Ralls & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Philadelphia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Philadelphia:
- Marion County (The home county of Philadelphia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Nelsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Palmyra
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Dodge City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Dodge City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodge City
- Taylor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Helton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Helton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Hannibal
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Cave City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cave City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave City
- Clark County
- Saint Patrick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Saint Patrick is located in Clark County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Patrick
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Newark
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Plevna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Plevna is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plevna
- Jeddo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jeddo is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
- Hedge City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hedge City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedge City
- Knox City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Springs is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Springs
- Novelty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Durham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Maywood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Argola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Ewing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Gilead
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Gilead is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Weber
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Weber is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber
- Sellers
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Sellers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Lewistown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- New Court Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- New Court Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Court Village
- Monticello
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Monticello is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- La Grange
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- La Belle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Monroe City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- North Fork
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- North Fork is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Stoutsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Florida
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Goss
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Goss is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
- Granville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Granville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Paris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Woodlawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Woodlawn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Ralls County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Rensselaer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rensselaer is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rensselaer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- The Landing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- The Landing is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Landing
- Shaver Ford ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Shaver Ford is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Ford
- Greenlawn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Greenlawn is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlawn
- Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- New London
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Perry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Saverton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saverton is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saverton
- Madisonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Madisonville is located in Ralls County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Emden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Kendall
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kendall is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Hunnewell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hunnewell is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Bethel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Lakenan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lakenan is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakenan
- Shelbyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Shelbyville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 512 people
- Shelbina
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Kirby
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kirby is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Lentner
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lentner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lentner
- Leonard
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clarence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Enterprise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Adams County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Marblehead
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Marblehead is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
- Quincy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Fall Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fall Creek is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall Creek
- Ewbanks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ewbanks is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewbanks
- Meyer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Meyer is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meyer
- Ursa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Burton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Burton is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Payson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Marcelline
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marcelline is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcelline
- Adams
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Adams County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Fowler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mendon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pike County (IL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Shepherd
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Shepherd is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepherd
- Spencer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Spencer is located in Pike County (IL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Hull
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Philadelphia, see our County-by-County Page for Philadelphia.
Cemeteries Near Philadelphia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Philadelphia.
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 Philadelphia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Philadelphia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Coleman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Philadelphia Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Terrell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Calvert Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Little Union Churchyard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Andrew Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Banks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cobb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- McPike Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crane Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (236 more) ...
- Methodist Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- How Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Sunrise Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Sunrise Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the southwest of Maywood.
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 Philadelphia had a population of 230 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Warren
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Warren is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Emerson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Emerson is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
- Benbow
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Benbow is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benbow
- Nelsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nelsonville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonville
- Naomi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Naomi is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Cherry Dell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cherry Dell is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Dell
- Emden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Emden is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emden
- Hester
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hester is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hester
- Woodland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Maywood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maywood is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Durham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oakdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oakdale is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Argola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Argola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argola
- Ely
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ely is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Palmyra
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Philadelphia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Philadelphia.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Philadelphia ...
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 92 newspapers that have been published in the area around Philadelphia.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Philadelphia. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Philadelphia and those printed in the larger area surrounding Philadelphia.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2> of Philadelphia.
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 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 Philadelphia:
- Websites specific to Missouri
- Pages specific to Marion County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Knox County
- Lewis County
- Monroe County
- Ralls County
- Shelby County
- Adams County
- Pike County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Missouri
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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Philadelphia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Philadelphia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |