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 Oyster Rocks (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 Oyster Rocks. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Oyster Rocks 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 Oyster Rocks. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oyster Rocks:
- Sussex County (The home county of Oyster Rocks)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- Nassau
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sand Dunes Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sand Dunes Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Dunes Village
- Lewes
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sea Spray Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sea Spray Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sea Spray Village
- Cool Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cool Spring is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
- East Side Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- East Side Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Side Village
- Waples
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Waples is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waples
- Country Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Country Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Harbeson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Milton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bald Eagle Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bald Eagle Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Eagle Village
- Henlopen Acres
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Henlopen Acres is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henlopen Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- Milford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Haven
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Haven is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Haven
- Church Hill Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Church Hill Village is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill Village
- Williamsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Williamsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
- Houston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bowers
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bowers is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Frederica
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Farmington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Harrington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Riverview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Riverview is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Magnolia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Andrewsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Andrewsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrewsville
- Caroline County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- Hickman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hickman is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Whiteleysburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Whiteleysburg is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteleysburg
- Dorchester County (MD)
- Reliance
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- 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 Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- New Hope
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- New Hope is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Willards
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pittsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Worcester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- Bishopville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bishop
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bishop is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Showell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Showell is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Showell
- Ocean Bay City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ocean Bay City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Bay City
- Ocean Pines
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Whaleyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- North Ocean City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- North Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ocean City
- Cape May County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- Cape May
(18 miles [29 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
- North Cape May
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- North Cape May is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cape May
- Cold Spring
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cold Spring is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Erma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Erma is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erma
- Diamond Beach
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Diamond Beach is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Beach
- Villas
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Villas is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villas
- Del Haven
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Del Haven is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Haven
- Norburys Landing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Norburys Landing is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norburys Landing
- Rio Grande
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rio Grande is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Grande
- Former name for Rio Grande:
- Crandol Town
- Rio Grande has also been known as:
- Hildreth
- Leamings
- Green Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Green Creek is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Whitesboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Whitesboro is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesboro
- Wildwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wildwood is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,916 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oyster Rocks, see our County-by-County Page for Oyster Rocks.
Cemeteries Near Oyster Rocks ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oyster Rocks.
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 Oyster Rocks - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oyster Rocks covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- Henlopen Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Holland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whites Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Methodist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. George Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Weigands Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hazzard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Betts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (114 more) ...
- Ponder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Beaverdam Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Peoples Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Oyster Rocks in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oyster Rocks.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oyster Rocks, with the one closest to Oyster Rocks listed first.
- Drawbridge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Drawbridge is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawbridge
- Nassau
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lewes
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cool Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cool Spring is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
- Waples
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Waples is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waples
- Milton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Harbeson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Midway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Midway is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Bennum
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bennum is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennum
- Rehoboth Beach
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hollyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hollyville is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollyville
- Ellendale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Robbins
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Robbins is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins
- Redden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Redden is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redden
- Georgetown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oyster Rocks. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oyster Rocks.
Newspapers Published in Oyster Rocks ...
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 10 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oyster Rocks.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oyster Rocks, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oyster Rocks.
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 Oyster Rocks:
- Websites specific to Delaware
- Pages specific to Sussex County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kent County
- Caroline County
- Dorchester County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Cape May 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> | 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 Oyster Rocks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oyster Rocks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |