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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 Blackwater (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 Blackwater. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Blackwater is located in Sussex County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sussex County: Kent, Caroline (MD), Dorchester (MD), Wicomico (MD), Worcester (MD) & Cape May (NJ).

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

  • Sussex County     (The home county of Blackwater)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Boyers Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Boyers Village is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyers Village
    • Clarksville
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Clarksville is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
    • Blackwater Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Blackwater Village is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwater Village
    • Millville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Omar
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Omar is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omar
    • Ocean View
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Roxana
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Roxana is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
    • Bayard
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayard is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
    • Frankford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dagsboro
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Bethany Beach
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Bethany Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Bethany Village is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany Village
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Milford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Woods Haven
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Woods Haven is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Haven
    • Williamsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Williamsville is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
  • Dorchester County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Galestown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Galestown is located in Dorchester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Reliance
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Reliance is located in Dorchester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
  • Wicomico County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • New Hope
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • New Hope is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
    • Willards
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Willards is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willards
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,012 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Willards <1>
    • Pittsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Powellville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Powellville is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
    • Parsonsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Whiton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Whiton is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiton
    • White Plains
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • White Plains is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
    • Delmar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Delmar is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delmar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,596 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delmar <1>
    • Salisbury
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Salisbury is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 33,017 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Salisbury <1>
    • Dogwood Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
    • Cedar Hurst Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Cedar Hurst Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hurst Village
    • Fruitland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Worcester County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Bishopville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Bishop
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Bishop is located in Worcester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Ocean Pines
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Showell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Showell is located in Worcester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Showell
    • Ocean Bay City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Ocean Bay City is located in Worcester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Bay City
    • North Ocean City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • North Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ocean City
    • Whaleyville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Ocean City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Berlin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Berlin is located in Worcester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,940 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Berlin <1>
    • West Ocean City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • West Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ocean City
    • Newark
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Cedartown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cedartown is located in Worcester County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
  • Cape May County (NJ)
    • Cape May
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cape May is located in Cape May County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape May
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,404 people

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

Cemeteries Near Blackwater ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blackwater.

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 Blackwater - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Georges Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Wilgus Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Daisey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisey Cemetery
    • The Daisey Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Rickards / Daisey Cemetery
    • Wilgus Road Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2589210 <2>
  • Ocean View Presbyterian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Banks Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Carey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Redman Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redman Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Redman Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Dagsboro.
    • The Redman Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Millsboro Cemetery
  • Long Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Millsboro Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Baker Family Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Red Men Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (127 more) ...
    • Golden Acres Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Bishopville Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Harmony Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<4>

While we didn't find Blackwater in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blackwater.

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

  • Omar
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Omar is located in Sussex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omar
  • Millville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Roxana
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Roxana is located in Sussex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
  • Bayard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bayard is located in Sussex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
  • Ocean View
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Frankford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Dagsboro
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Trinity
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Trinity is located in Sussex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
  • Bunting
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Bunting is located in Sussex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunting
  • Warwick
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Warwick is located in Sussex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
  • Selbyville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Williamsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Williamsville is located in Sussex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Bayville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayville is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayville
    • Bishopville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Millsboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Blackwater ...

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 2 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blackwater.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blackwater, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blackwater.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Blackwater:

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>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- Blackwater) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Blackwater, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.