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 Philadelphia (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 Philadelphia. 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 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.
Philadelphia is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Hamilton, Henry, Madison, Marion, Rush & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Philadelphia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Philadelphia:
- Hancock County (The home county of Philadelphia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Spring Lake
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Spring Lake is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 231 people
- Gem
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Gem is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem
- Greenfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mohawk
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mohawk is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk
- New Palestine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Maxwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maxwell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Denny Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Denny Corner is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denny Corner
- Woodbury
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Woodbury is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Eden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eden is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- McCordsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Colonial Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Colonial Village is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Fortville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Willow Branch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Branch is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Branch
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Eagle Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Eagle Village is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Village
- Zionsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Whitestown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Germantown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Germantown is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
- Saint Omer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Omer is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Saint Paul
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Delaware County
- Daleville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fayette County
- Fairview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Fairview is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Luxhaven
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Luxhaven is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luxhaven
- Bridgewater
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgewater is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgewater
- Olio
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Olio is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olio
- Fishers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clarksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Clarksville is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
- Durbin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Durbin is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durbin
- Newark Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Newark Village is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark Village
- North Ridge Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- North Ridge Village is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ridge Village
- Carmel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Noblesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Monterey Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Monterey Village is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey Village
- Westfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Strawtown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Strawtown is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawtown
- Hendricks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Avon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Avon is located in Hendricks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,361 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avon <1>
- Brownsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Plainfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Knightstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Grant City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Grant City is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant City
- Kennard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kennard is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 446 people
- Ogden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Ogden is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden
- Dunreith
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Greensboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Greensboro is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greensboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Spiceland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cadiz
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cadiz is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 136 people
- Middletown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lewisville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sulphur Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 371 people
- New Castle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Foley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Foley is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foley
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Rocklane
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rocklane is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocklane
- Needham
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Greenwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Urmeyville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Urmeyville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urmeyville
- New Whiteland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Whiteland is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Whiteland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,350 people
- Whiteland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stones Crossing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stones Crossing is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stones Crossing
- Smith Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Smith Valley is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Valley
- Franklin
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bargersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Amity
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Amity is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
- Bluff Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff Creek is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Providence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Providence is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Kosciusko County
- Warsaw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Ingalls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Pendleton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Markleville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Lapel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fishersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fishersburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishersburg
- Edgewood Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Edgewood Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood Village
- Edgewood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Edgewood is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,850 people
- Anderson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- River Forest
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- River Forest is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22 people
- Western Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Western Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Western Village
- Woodlawn Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Woodlawn Heights is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Country Club Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Country Club Heights is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Club Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 77 people
- Glyn Ellen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Glyn Ellen is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glyn Ellen
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Cumberland
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lawrence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Charlesmac Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Charlesmac Village is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesmac Village
- Acton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Acton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton
- Warren Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Warren Park is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,574 people
- Castleton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Beech Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Southport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Indianapolis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Homecroft
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Homecroft is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homecroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 764 people
- Crows Nest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Crows Nest is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crows Nest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 75 people
- North Crows Nest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Crows Nest is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Crows Nest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
- Rocky Ripple
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Rocky Ripple is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Ripple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 653 people
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Red House ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Red House is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red House
- Waverly
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Waverly is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Young
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Young is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young
- Mooresville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rush County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Carthage
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Arlington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson
- Manilla
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Manilla is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manilla
- Homer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Homer is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
- Mays
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mays is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mays
- Gowdy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Gowdy is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowdy
- Rushville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Raleigh
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Raleigh is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
- Moscow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Gings
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Gings is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gings
- Milroy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Falmouth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Falmouth is located in Rush County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Fountaintown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fountaintown is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountaintown
- Morristown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- London
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- London is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for London
- Brookfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brookfield is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Clover Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Clover Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Village
- Fairland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Gwynneville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gwynneville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwynneville
- Beech Brook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Beech Brook is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Brook
- Boggstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Candleglo Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Candleglo Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candleglo Village
- Knighthood Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Knighthood Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knighthood Village
- Hildebrand Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Hildebrand Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hildebrand Village
- Shelbyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Philadelphia, see our County-by-County Page for Philadelphia.
Cemeteries Near Philadelphia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Philadelphia.
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 Philadelphia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Philadelphia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Dye Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Griffith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Owen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- McNamee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Willet Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Langenberger Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Schramm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Richmond Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Little Sugar Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Steele Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (441 more) ...
- Reeves Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Arnett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scotten Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Philadelphia had a population of 182 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Philadelphia, with the one closest to Philadelphia listed first.
- Gem
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Gem is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem
- New Palestine
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mohawk
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mohawk is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk
- Carrollton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Carrollton is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Mount Comfort
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Comfort is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Comfort
- Julietta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Julietta is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Julietta
- Fountaintown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fountaintown is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountaintown
- Maxwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maxwell is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Westland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Westland is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westland
- Oaklandon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Woodbury
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Woodbury is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- McCordsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Eden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eden is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Lawrence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Philadelphia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Philadelphia.
Newspapers Published in Philadelphia ...
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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Philadelphia.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Philadelphia, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Philadelphia.
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 Philadelphia:
- Websites specific to Indiana
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Decatur County
- Delaware County
- Fayette County
- Hamilton County
- Hendricks County
- Henry County
- Johnson County
- Kosciusko County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Morgan County
- Rush County
- Shelby County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Indiana
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 Philadelphia, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Philadelphia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |