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Oak Ridge Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Illinois at 365 acres and is the second most visited cemetery in the United States. Home of President Abraham Lincoln's Tomb, this active cemetery's first burial was in 1858. The cemetery was officially dedicated on May 24, 1860.
Oak Ridge is the burial home of many settlers of Springfield and Sangamon County and state and local officials. For many years the cemetery was segregated as to both color and religion so some sections tend to represent one race, religion or social status. There are several war memorials and a dedicated area for the Home of the Friendless residents who were buried there in the late 1800s.
Several cemeteries were closed and the remains moved to Oak Ridge over a span of many years. Most notable of those were Hutchinson Cemetery and the Old City Graveyard. Many other small family cemeteries in Sangamon County also had their burials removed to Oak Ridge.
Oak Ridge consists of over 50 sections and 75,000 burials. The office is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The staff is helpful in providing burial locations and should be contacted for plot information when requesting a tombstone photo.
Other cemeteries that were moved to Oak Ridge Cemetery include Cotton Hill Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois; Clear Lake Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois; Old High School City Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois; Crowder Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois; Home of the Friendless Cemetery.