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 Dawson (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 Dawson. 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.
Dawson is located in Allegany 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 Allegany County: Garrett, Washington, Bedford (PA), Fulton (PA), Somerset (PA), Hampshire (WV), Mineral (WV) & Morgan (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Dawson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dawson:
- Allegany County (The home county of Dawson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Rawlings
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Barton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Barton is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
- Moscow
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Moscow is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Nikep
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Nikep is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nikep
- Westernport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lonaconing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Frost ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frost is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Luke
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Luke is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luke
- Population from the 2020 Census: 60 people
- Gilmore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Gilmore is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Midland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Midland is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Ocean
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ocean is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean
- Pinto
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pinto is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinto
- Garrett County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Bloomington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bloomington is located in Garrett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- Avilton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Avilton is located in Garrett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
- Kitzmiller
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Swanton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bittinger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Grantsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Altamont
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Altamont is located in Garrett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
- Schell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Schell is located in Garrett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schell
- Deer Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Accident
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- McHenry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Loch Lynn Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Loch Lynn Heights is located in Garrett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lynn Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 525 people
- Bedford County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Cooks Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Stringtown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stringtown is located in Bedford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Hyndman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Beans Cove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beans Cove is located in Bedford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Cove
- Somerset County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Wellersburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wellersburg is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
- Salisbury
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- West Salisbury
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Salisbury is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salisbury
- Boynton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Boynton is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Wittenberg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Wittenberg is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittenberg
- Callimont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Callimont is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callimont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
- Coal Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Coal Run is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run
- Glade City
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Glade City is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade City
- Meyersdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Summit Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Summit Mills is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
- West Meyersdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- West Meyersdale is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Meyersdale
- Hays Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Hays Mill is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hays Mill
- Grant County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Medley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Greenland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenland is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Lahmansville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lahmansville is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lahmansville
- Bayard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bayard is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Maysville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Maysville is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Wilson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Arthur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Arthur is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Seymourville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Seymourville is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymourville
- Dobbin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dobbin is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbin
- Hampshire County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Ritters
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ritters is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritters
- Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Junction is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction
- Wapocomo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wapocomo is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapocomo
- Springfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Romney
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Romney is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romney
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,680 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Romney <1>
- Vance
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Vance is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
- Donaldson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Donaldson is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Three Churches
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Three Churches is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Churches
- Points
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Points is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Points
- Higginsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Higginsville is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginsville
- Augusta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Okonoko
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Okonoko is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okonoko
- Hardy County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Inkerman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Inkerman is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inkerman
- Fort Run
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fort Run is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Run
- Moorefield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mineral County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Keyser
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Piedmont
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Headsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Headsville is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headsville
- Short Gap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Short Gap is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Gap
- New Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Windom ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Windom is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
- Fort Ashby
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Burlington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shaw is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Elk Garden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Carpendale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
- Sulphur City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sulphur City is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur City
- Morgan County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Paw Paw
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Hansrote
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hansrote is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hansrote
- Magnolia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Magnolia is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Doe Gully
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Doe Gully is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doe Gully
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dawson, see our County-by-County Page for Dawson.
Cemeteries Near Dawson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dawson.
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 Dawson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dawson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Dawson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Baker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Poor Farm Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Gerstell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Dayton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Sulter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Umstot Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mead Chapel Biser Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Waxler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Meadow View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (243 more) ...
- Queens Meadows Point Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Queens Point Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Green Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
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 in 1895, Dawson had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dawson, with the one closest to Dawson listed first.
- Black Oak
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Black Oak is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Oak
- Keyser
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Reeses Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Reeses Mill is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeses Mill
- Bier
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bier is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bier
- Rawlings
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Barton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Barton is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
- Westernport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Piedmont
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lonaconing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bloomington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bloomington is located in Garrett County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
- West Virginia Central Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Midland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Midland is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Headsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Headsville is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headsville
- Ocean
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ocean is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean
- Windom ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Windom is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dawson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dawson.
Newspapers Published in Dawson ...
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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dawson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dawson, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dawson.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Dawson:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Allegany County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Garrett County
- Bedford County
- Somerset County
- Grant County
- Hampshire County
- Hardy County
- Mineral County
- Morgan County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maryland
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 Dawson, 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- Dawson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |