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 Essex Ridge (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 Essex Ridge. 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 Essex Ridge ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Essex Ridge: Essex Rdg. (or less commonly used: Essex Rdge. or Essex Ridg.)
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Essex Ridge is located in Wicomico 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 Wicomico County: Sussex (DE), Dorchester, Somerset & Worcester.
Below are the counties that are near Essex Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Essex Ridge:
- Wicomico County (The home county of Essex Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Parsonsburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Delmar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- White Plains
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- White Plains is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Pittsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Salisbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dogwood Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Cedar Hurst Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cedar Hurst Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hurst Village
- Willards
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- New Hope
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- New Hope is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Fruitland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Centennial Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Hebron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Federalsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hynson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hynson is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynson
- Preston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grove is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Hickman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Galestown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Galestown is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Walnut Landing
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Landing is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Landing
- Vienna
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Brookview
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Brookview is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Eldorado
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Eldorado is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Reliance
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Reliance is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Rabbit Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Finchville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Finchville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchville
- Rhodesdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marshyhope Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Marshyhope Village is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshyhope Village
- Salem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Salem is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Williamsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Williamsburg is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Eden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eden is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Loretto
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Loretto is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Princess Anne
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Vernon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- West Pocomoke
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- West Pocomoke is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pocomoke
- Costen
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Costen is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costen
- Monie
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Oriole
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Somersett Town ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
- Westover
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Champ
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Champ is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
- Manokin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Worcester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Whaleyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bishop
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bishop is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Showell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Showell is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Showell
- Berlin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Bishopville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Newark
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Snow Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ocean Pines
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cedartown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- West Ocean City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Ocean City is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ocean City
- North Ocean City
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- North Ocean City is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ocean City
- Girdletree
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Kent County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Adamsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Adamsville is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Hickman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Sussex County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Ward
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Delmar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mission
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mission is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Bethel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Selbyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Blades
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Blades is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blades
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Seaford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Dagsboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Frankford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Millsboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Heritage Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Heritage Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Village
- Accomack County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Franklin City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Franklin City is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin City
- Greenbackville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sign Post
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sign Post is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Post
- Sinnickson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sinnickson is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinnickson
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Essex Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Essex Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Essex Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Essex Ridge.
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 Essex Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Essex Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Melson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oliphant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jerusalem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nichols Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Mills Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Mills Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Smith Mills Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the northeast of Delmar (DE).
- The Smith Mills Cemetery has also been known as:
- Little Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2375541 <3>
- St. Stephens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Parsons Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Farlows Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hustons Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wicomico Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill Memorial Garden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (208 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Colbourne Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dennis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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.<5>
While we didn't find Essex Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Essex Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Essex Ridge, with the one closest to Essex Ridge listed first.
- Walston
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Walston is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walston
- Parsonsburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Whitesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Whitesville is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesville
- Ward
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Delmar
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Salisbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wango
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wango is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
- Twilley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Twilley is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilley
- Gumboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gumboro is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gumboro
- Lowes Crossroads
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lowes Crossroads is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowes Crossroads
- Fruitland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Laurel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Powellville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Powellville is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Truitt
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Truitt is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truitt
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Essex Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Essex Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Essex Ridge ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Essex Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Essex Ridge, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Essex Ridge.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Essex Ridge:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Wicomico County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caroline County
- Dorchester County
- Somerset County
- Worcester County
- Kent County
- Sussex County
- Accomack 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> | 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- Essex Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MIHP (for the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties). More information about the MHT and MIHP can be found on their website: mht.maryland.gov. |
| <5> | 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 Essex Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |