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 Orchard Estates (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 Orchard Estates. 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 Orchard Estates ...
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 Orchard Estates: Orchard Ests.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Orchard Estates. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Orchard Estates.
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 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.
Orchard Estates is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Allegany, Frederick, Franklin (PA), Fulton (PA), Loudoun (VA), Berkeley (WV), Jefferson (WV) & Morgan (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Orchard Estates. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Orchard Estates:
- Washington County (The home county of Orchard Estates)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Leitersburg
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Leitersburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
- Smithsburg
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hill Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hill Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Village
- Cavetown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cavetown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
- Greenvale Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Greenvale Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale Village
- Chewsville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chewsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
- Pondsville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pondsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondsville
- Robinwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Robinwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinwood
- Bridgeport
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bridgeport is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Pen Mar
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pen Mar is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Pen Mar has also been known as:
- Pen Mar Park
- Mount Aetna
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mount Aetna is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Aetna
- Paramount - Long Meadow
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fountainhead - Orchard Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Keysville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Keysville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
- Bruceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bruceville is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville
- Keymar
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Harney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Harney is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harney
- Crabster ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Crabster is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabster
- Taneytown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fairground Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fairground Village is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairground Village
- Union Bridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bark Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bark Hill is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bark Hill
- Linwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Linwood is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- McKinstrys Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- McKinstrys Mill is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinstrys Mill
- Uniontown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Uniontown is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- New Windsor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Frederick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Sabillasville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Walk
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Walk is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Walk
- Thurmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Catoctin Furnace
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Catoctin Furnace is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoctin Furnace
- Myersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Jimtown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jimtown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Frostown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Frostown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frostown
- Mountaindale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Emmitsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bolivar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bolivar is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Creagerstown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Creagerstown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creagerstown
- Rocky Ridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Charlesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Charlesville is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
- Montgomery County
- Hyattstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hyattstown is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyattstown
- Adams County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Jacks Mountain
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jacks Mountain is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacks Mountain
- Zora
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Zora is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
- Carroll Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fairfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Virginia Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Virginia Mills is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
- Orrtanna
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Greenmount
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Greenmount is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
- Cashtown - McKnightstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cashtown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cashtown is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
- McKnightstown Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- McKnightstown Station is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKnightstown Station
- Seven Stars
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Stars is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Trust
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Trust is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Gettysburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cumberland County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Shippensburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lees Cross Roads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lees Cross Roads is located in Cumberland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Cross Roads
- Franklin County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Waynesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pen Mar
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pen Mar is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Rouzerville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rouzerville is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rouzerville
- Wayne Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne Heights is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne Heights
- Wingerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wingerton is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
- Zullinger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Zullinger is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zullinger
- Waynecastle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Waynecastle is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynecastle
- Beartown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beartown is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
- Blue Ridge Summit
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nunnery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Nunnery is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnery
- Monterey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Monterey is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Shady Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Milnor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Milnor is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milnor
- Fulton County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Websters Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Websters Mill is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Websters Mill
- McConnellsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Knobsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Knobsville is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobsville
- Covalt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Covalt is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covalt
- Loudoun County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Georges Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Georges Mill is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Mill
- Lovettsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bolington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bolington is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolington
- Berkeley County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Falling Waters
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Scrabble
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Scrabble is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
- Bedington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bedington is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedington
- Little Georgetown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Little Georgetown is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Georgetown
- Swan Pond
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Swan Pond is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Pond
- Hedgesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Baker Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Baker Heights is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Heights
- Martinsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Arden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arden is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Darkesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Darkesville is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darkesville
- Jefferson County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Shepherdstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bolivar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bolivar is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,018 people
- Harpers Ferry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lower Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lower Town is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Town
- Bardane
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bardane is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bardane
- Jefferson Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson Village is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Village
- Charles Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ranson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ranson is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ranson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,360 people
- Ranson has also been known as:
- Corporation of Ranson
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ranson <1>
- Morgan County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Cherry Run
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cherry Run is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
- Holton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Holton is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
- Sleepy Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sleepy Creek is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleepy Creek
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Orchard Estates, see our County-by-County Page for Orchard Estates.
Cemeteries Near Orchard Estates ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orchard Estates.
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 Orchard Estates - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Orchard Estates covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Beards Graveyard
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Smithsburg Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Trinity Graveyard
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Welty Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. James Graveyard
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Leitersburg.
- The St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Pauls Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #81591 <3>
- Christ Reformed Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- St. Pauls Graveyard
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Stouffers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel Graveyard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ringgold Graveyard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Millers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (344 more) ...
- Shiloh Graveyard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Toms Cemetery #2
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Harbaugh Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Orchard Estates in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Orchard Estates.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Orchard Estates, with the one closest to Orchard Estates listed first.
- Smithsburg
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Leitersburg
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Leitersburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
- Chewsville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chewsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
- Cavetown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cavetown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
- Edgemont
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Edgemont is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgemont
- Ringgold
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ringgold is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
- Blue Mountain
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Mountain is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
- Midvale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Midvale is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Foxville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Foxville is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxville
- Pen Mar
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pen Mar is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Waynesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Wingerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wingerton is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Hagerstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hagerstown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39,918 people
- Former name for Hagerstown:
- Hager's Town
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hagerstown <1>
- Zullinger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Zullinger is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zullinger
- Beaver Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Beaver Creek is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Orchard Estates. See our List of 1890's Communities around Orchard Estates.
Newspapers Published in Orchard Estates ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orchard Estates.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orchard Estates, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orchard Estates.
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 Orchard Estates:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Frederick County
- Montgomery County
- Adams County
- Cumberland County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Loudoun County
- Berkeley County
- Jefferson 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 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. |
| <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> | 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 Orchard Estates, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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 from Point A (ie- Orchard Estates) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |