RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Maryland >> Dorchester County >> Blackwater >> 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 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.

Blackwater is located in Dorchester County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Dorchester County: Sussex (DE), Caroline, Somerset, Talbot & Wicomico.

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:

  • Dorchester County     (The home county of Blackwater)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Lakesville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Lakesville is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesville
    • Andrews
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Andrews is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
    • Crapo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Crapo is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crapo
    • Golden Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Golden Hill is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Hill
    • Fishing Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bucktown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bucktown is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
    • Toddville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Toddville is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
    • Wingate
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Church Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Woolford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Woolford is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolford
    • Bishops Head
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
    • Elliott
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elliott is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
  • Calvert County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Cove Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Cove Point is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Point
    • Brianwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Brianwood is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brianwood
    • Chesapeake Ranch Estates - Drum Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Drum Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Drum Point is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drum Point
    • Lusby
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Olivet
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Olivet is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
    • Coster
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Coster is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coster
    • Cove View
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Cove View is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove View
    • Dowell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Solomons
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Mackall
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Mackall is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackall
    • Saint Leonard
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Caroline County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Preston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Tanyard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Tanyard is located in Caroline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanyard
    • Hynson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hynson is located in Caroline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynson
    • Bethlehem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bethlehem is located in Caroline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Grove is located in Caroline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
    • Federalsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Charles County
  • Saint Mary's County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Lexington Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Dameron
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Dameron is located in Saint Mary's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dameron
    • Saint Marys City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • California
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • North Town Creek Manor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • North Town Creek Manor is located in Saint Mary's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Town Creek Manor
    • Great Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Sotterley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Sotterley is located in Saint Mary's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sotterley
    • Callaway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Gum Landing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gum Landing is located in Saint Mary's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Landing
    • Ridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Drayden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Hollywood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Hollywood is located in Saint Mary's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
  • Somerset County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Chance
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Dames Quarter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Deal Island
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Vernon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
    • Wenona
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Wenona is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
    • Monie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Monie is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
    • Oriole
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Oriole is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
    • Champ
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Champ is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
    • Frenchtown - Rumbly
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Frenchtown - Rumbly is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchtown - Rumbly
    • Somersett Town ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
    • Loretto
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Loretto is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
    • Fairmount
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairmount is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
  • Talbot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Trappe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Oxford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Neavitt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Neavitt is located in Talbot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neavitt
    • Royal Oak
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Tilghman Island
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Tilghman Island is located in Talbot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilghman Island
    • Newcomb
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Newcomb is located in Talbot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newcomb
    • Tilghman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Tilghman is located in Talbot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilghman
    • Kirkham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Kirkham is located in Talbot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkham
    • Riverside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Riverside is located in Talbot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Bozman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Easton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Saint Michaels
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Wicomico County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Bivalve
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Jesterville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jesterville is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
    • Nanticoke
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
    • Tyaskin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Capitola
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Capitola is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
    • Green Hill Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
    • Mardela Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Mardela Springs is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mardela Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 351 people
    • Quantico
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Hebron
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Twiggs Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
    • Allen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Allen is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
    • Centennial Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
  • Sussex County (DE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Reliance
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Reliance is located in Sussex County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
    • Bethel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bethel is located in Sussex County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bethel <1>

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.

  • Gootee Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Insley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Mary Star of the Sea Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Woolford Mace Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Scotts Chapel Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Elliotts Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Joppa Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Grace Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (154 more) ...
    • Bethany Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Antioch Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Bethlehem Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 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.<2>

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.

  • Lakesville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Lakesville is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesville
  • Crapo
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Crapo is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crapo
  • Golden Hill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Golden Hill is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Hill
  • Fishing Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Wingate
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Toddville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Toddville is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
  • Bucktown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Bucktown is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
  • Woolford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Woolford is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woolford
  • Hoopersville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Hoopersville is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoopersville
  • Bestpitch
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Bestpitch is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bestpitch
  • Church Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Bishops Head
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Elliott
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elliott is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
    • Madison
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Madison is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
    • Taylors Island
      (10 miles [16.1 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 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 25 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 12 miles [19.3 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 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>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.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' 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'.