RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Indiana >> Vanderburgh County >> Erskine Station >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Erskine Station (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 Erskine Station. 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.

Name Variations for Erskine Station ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Erskine Station: Erskine Sta. (in Canada, 'Stn.' is the more common abbreviation.)

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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.

Erskine Station is located in Vanderburgh County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Vanderburgh County: Gibson, Posey, Warrick & Henderson (KY).

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

  • Vanderburgh County     (The home county of Erskine Station)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • McCutchanville
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • McCutchanville is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCutchanville
    • Melody Hill
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Melody Hill is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melody Hill
    • Highland
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Highland is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
    • Inglefield
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Daylight
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Daylight is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daylight
    • Darmstadt
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Darmstadt is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darmstadt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,442 people
    • Evansville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Smythe
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Smythe is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smythe
    • Kasson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Kasson is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
    • Stacer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Stacer is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacer
    • Armstrong
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Armstrong is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
    • Cypress
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cypress is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress
  • Dubois County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Zoar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Zoar is located in Dubois County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoar
    • Holland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Gibson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Warrenton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Warrenton is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
    • Haubstadt
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Fort Branch
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Buckskin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Buckskin is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckskin
    • Mounts
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Mounts is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mounts
    • Mackey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mackey is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
    • Owensville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Somerville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Douglas
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Douglas is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
    • Francisco
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Francisco is located in Gibson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francisco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 558 people
    • Princeton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Oakland City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Spurgeon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Spurgeon is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurgeon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 201 people
    • Oakland City Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Oatsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Oatsville is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatsville
    • Stendal
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Stendal is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stendal
    • Union
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Union is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Glezen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Glezen is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glezen
    • Winslow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Posey County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Saint Wendel
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Wendel is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Wendel
    • Blairsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Blairsville is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
    • Cynthiana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Caborn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Caborn is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caborn
    • Hepburn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Hepburn is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepburn
    • Wadesville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Poseyville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Oliver
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Oliver is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
    • Bufkin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Bufkin is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bufkin
    • Springfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Springfield is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
    • Stewartsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Stewartsville is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville
    • Solitude
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Solitude is located in Posey County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solitude
  • Spencer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Hatfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hatfield is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatfield
    • Eureka
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Eureka is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
    • Richland City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Richland City is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland City
      • Estimated population in 2015: 407 people
      • Richland City has also been known as:
      • Richland
    • Bloomfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Bloomfield is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
    • Reo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Reo is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reo
    • Pigeon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pigeon is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Chrisney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Gentryville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Kercheval
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Kercheval is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kercheval
    • Lincoln Pioneer Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Rock Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Rock Hill is located in Spencer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
    • Rockport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Warrick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Stevenson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Stevenson is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevenson
    • Baugh City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Baugh City is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baugh City
    • Chandler
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Chandler is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,288 people
    • Elberfeld
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Newburgh
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Wheatonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wheatonville is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatonville
    • Dayville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Dayville is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayville
    • Boonville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Graham Valley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Graham Valley is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham Valley
    • Lynnville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • De Gonia Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • De Gonia Springs is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Gonia Springs
    • Dickeyville ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dickeyville is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickeyville
  • Wabash County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Keensburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Carmel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bellmont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • White County (IL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Phillipstown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Phillipstown is located in White County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40 people
    • Maunie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Maunie is located in White County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maunie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Maunie <1>
    • Calvin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Calvin is located in White County (IL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
    • Grayville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Crossville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Daviess County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Birk City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Birk City is located in Daviess County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birk City
    • Curdsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Curdsville is located in Daviess County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curdsville
    • Saint Joseph
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Daviess County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
    • West Louisville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Owensboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Henderson County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • White City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • White City is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Baskett
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Baskett is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baskett
    • Henderson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Henderson is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,974 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Henderson <1>
    • Spottsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Spottsville is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottsville
    • Carlinburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Carlinburg is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlinburg
    • Reed
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Reed is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
    • Bluff City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Bluff City is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Hebbardsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hebbardsville is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebbardsville
    • Smith Mills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Smith Mills is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Mills
    • Niagara
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Niagara is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niagara
    • Corydon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Corydon is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corydon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 685 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Corydon <1>
    • Robards
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Robards is located in Henderson County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robards
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Robards <1>
  • McLean County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Elba
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Elba is located in McLean County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
    • Beech Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Union County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Hitesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hitesville is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitesville
    • Waverly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Uniontown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Uniontown is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
    • Flournoy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Flournoy is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flournoy
    • Breckinridge Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Breckinridge Center is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breckinridge Center
    • Chapman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Chapman is located in Union County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
  • Webster County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Erskine Station, with the one closest to Erskine Station listed first.
    • Poole
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Sebree
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Sebree is located in Webster County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebree
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,523 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sebree <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Erskine Station ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Erskine Station.

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 Erskine Station - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Campground Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • McCutchanville Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • St. Peters Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Locust Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Oak Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Richter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (297 more) ...
    • Memorial Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mesker Park Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mt. Sinai Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)

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 Erskine Station in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Erskine Station.

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

  • McCutchanville
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • McCutchanville is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCutchanville
  • Hillsdale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Hillsdale is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
  • Earle
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Earle is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earle
  • Inglefield
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Evansville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Kasson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Kasson is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
  • Stevenson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Stevenson is located in Warrick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevenson
  • Elliott
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Elliott is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
  • Stacer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Stacer is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacer
  • Armstrong
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Armstrong is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
  • Belknap
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Belknap is located in Vanderburgh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
  • Saint James
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Saint James is located in Gibson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint James
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Cypress
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cypress is located in Vanderburgh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress
    • Newburgh
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Paradise
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Paradise is located in Warrick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise

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

Newspapers Published in Erskine Station ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Erskine Station.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Erskine Station, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Erskine Station.

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 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 Erskine Station:

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 Erskine Station, 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- Erskine Station) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.