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 Cross Keys (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 Cross Keys. 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.
Cross Keys 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 Cross Keys. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cross Keys:
- Sussex County (The home county of Cross Keys)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Mission
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mission is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Millsboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dagsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Frankford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Georgetown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ward
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ward is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Omar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Omar is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omar
- Hollyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hollyville is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollyville
- Hollymount
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hollymount is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollymount
- Trinity
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Trinity is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Selbyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Laurel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Blackwater Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Blackwater Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwater Village
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Williamsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Williamsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
- Farmington
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Milford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Andrewsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Andrewsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrewsville
- Houston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woods Haven
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woods Haven is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Haven
- Adamsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Adamsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Church Hill Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Church Hill Village is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill Village
- Hickman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Harrington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Brownsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Caroline County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Federalsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hickman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Hynson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hynson is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynson
- Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grove is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Preston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dorchester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Galestown
(18 miles [29 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Reliance is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Walnut Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Walnut Landing is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Landing
- Brookview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Brookview is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Eldorado
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Eldorado is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Finchville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Finchville is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchville
- Marshyhope Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Marshyhope Village is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshyhope Village
- Rabbit Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Rhodesdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Vienna
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Hurlock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Salem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Salem is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Somerset County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Eden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Eden is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Loretto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Loretto is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Princess Anne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wicomico County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- New Hope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- New Hope is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Pittsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Willards
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Delmar
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Parsonsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Powellville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Powellville is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- White Plains
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- White Plains is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Cedar Hurst Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Hurst Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hurst Village
- Salisbury
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sharptown
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sharptown is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharptown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 664 people
- Whiton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Whiton is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiton
- Hebron
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dogwood Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Worcester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Whaleyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bishop
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Bishopville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Showell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Showell is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Showell
- Ocean Pines
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Berlin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Ocean Bay City
(19 miles [30.6 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
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ocean City
- Ocean City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Ocean City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ocean City
- Newark
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Snow Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cross Keys, see our County-by-County Page for Cross Keys.
Cemeteries Near Cross Keys ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cross Keys.
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 Cross Keys - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cross Keys covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Carey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Old Field Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Field Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Old Field Cemetery is located outside and to the southwest of Millsboro.
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Providence Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Marvel Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Millsboro Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millsboro Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Millsboro Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Millsboro.
- The Millsboro Cemetery has also been known as:
- Brotherhood Cemetery
- Mechanics Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1535377 <2>
- Order United American Men Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Redman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- 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
- New St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Twilley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Long Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (180 more) ...
- Carey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Asbury Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Mills Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Mills Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Smith Mills Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the northeast of Delmar.
- The Smith Mills Cemetery has also been known as:
- Little Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2375541 <2>
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 Cross Keys in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cross Keys.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cross Keys, with the one closest to Cross Keys listed first.
- Mission
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mission is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Lowes Crossroads
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lowes Crossroads is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowes Crossroads
- Shortly
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shortly is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shortly
- Millsboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Stockley
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Stockley is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockley
- Gumboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Gumboro is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumboro
- Dagsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sycamore
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sycamore is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Frankford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Warwick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Warwick is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
- Ward
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ward is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Whitesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Whitesville is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesville
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Twilley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Twilley is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley
- Georgetown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Omar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Omar is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omar
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cross Keys. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cross Keys.
Newspapers Published in Cross Keys ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cross Keys.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cross Keys, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cross Keys.
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 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 Cross Keys:
- Websites specific to Delaware
- Pages specific to Sussex County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kent County
- Caroline County
- Dorchester County
- Somerset County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Delaware
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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Cross Keys) 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 Cross Keys, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |