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 Rockdale (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 Rockdale. 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.
Rockdale 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 Rockdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rockdale:
- Washington County (The home county of Rockdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Fairview
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Fairview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Wilson - Conococheague
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Huyett
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Huyett is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huyett
- Maugansville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Clear Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fountainhead - Orchard Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Long Meadow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Long Meadow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Meadow
- Paramount - Long Meadow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Williamsport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hagerstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Halfway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Halfway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Williamsport Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Williamsport Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport Station
- Allegany County
- Little Orleans
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Frederick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Pleasant Walk
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Walk is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Walk
- Myersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sabillasville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Frostown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Frostown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frostown
- Bolivar
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bolivar is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Catoctin Furnace
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Catoctin Furnace is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoctin Furnace
- Thurmont
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Jimtown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jimtown is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Burkittsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Middletown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Yellow Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Yellow Springs is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Springs
- Adams County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Jacks Mountain
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Jacks Mountain is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacks Mountain
- Carroll Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fairfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Virginia Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Virginia Mills is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
- Zora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Zora is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
- Orrtanna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cashtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cashtown is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
- Trust
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Trust is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- McKnightstown Station
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- McKnightstown Station is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKnightstown Station
- Cashtown - McKnightstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenmount
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Greenmount is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
- Seven Stars
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Seven Stars is located in Adams County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Bedford County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Robinsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Robinsonville is located in Bedford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinsonville
- Purcell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Purcell is located in Bedford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purcell
- Breezewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cumberland County (PA)
- Shippensburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Welsh Run
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Welsh Run is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welsh Run
- Claylick
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Claylick is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claylick
- Milnor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Milnor is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milnor
- Greencastle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wingerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Wingerton is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
- Mercersburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Williamson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Williamson is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
- Shady Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shady Grove is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Rockdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rockdale is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Kauffman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kauffman is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kauffman
- Waynecastle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Waynecastle is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynecastle
- Cashtown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fulton County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Websters Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Websters Mill is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Websters Mill
- McConnellsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Covalt
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Covalt is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covalt
- Needmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Warfordsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Dott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dott is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dott
- Pleasant Ridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- Sipes Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sipes Mill is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipes Mill
- Knobsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Knobsville is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobsville
- Harrisonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Harrisonville is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisonville
- Fort Littleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Emmaville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Emmaville is located in Fulton County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmaville
- Huntingdon County (PA)
- Maddensville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Maddensville is located in Huntingdon County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddensville
- Frederick County (VA)
- Shockeysville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shockeysville is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shockeysville
- Loudoun County (VA)
- Georges Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Georges Mill is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Mill
- Berkeley County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Little Georgetown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Little Georgetown is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Georgetown
- Falling Waters
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bedington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bedington is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedington
- Hedgesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Scrabble
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Scrabble is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
- Swan Pond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Swan Pond is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Pond
- Martinsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Baker Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Baker Heights is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Heights
- Arden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arden is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Darkesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Darkesville is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darkesville
- Inwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gerrardstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Shepherdstown
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bardane
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bardane is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bardane
- Jefferson Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jefferson Village is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Village
- Bolivar
(26 miles [41.8 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lower Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lower Town is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Town
- Charles Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Middleway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ranson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Bloomery
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bloomery is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomery
- Morgan County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Cherry Run
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Run is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
- Sleepy Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Sleepy Creek is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleepy Creek
- Holton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Holton is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
- Hancock
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hancock is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Bath
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Bath is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
- Population from the 2020 Census: 587 people
- Berkeley Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Berryville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Berryville is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Stotlers Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stotlers Crossroads is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotlers Crossroads
- Woodmont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Woodmont is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont
- Oakland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Orleans Cross Roads
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Orleans Cross Roads is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans Cross Roads
- Doe Gully
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- 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 Rockdale, see our County-by-County Page for Rockdale.
Cemeteries Near Rockdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rockdale.
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 Rockdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rockdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Mt. Tabor Graveyard
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bethel Graveyard
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Broadfording Graveyard
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Secrest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cushwa Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Graveyard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Rose Hill Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Clear Spring.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #81437 <2>
- Welsh Run Brethren Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Salem Graveyard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Reiffs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (292 more) ...
- Little Metropolitan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pinesburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cedar Lawn Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Rockdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rockdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Fairview
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Fairview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Broadfording
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Broadfording is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadfording
- Conococheague
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Conococheague is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conococheague
- Cearfoss
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cearfoss is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cearfoss
- Huyett
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Huyett is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huyett
- Welsh Run
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Welsh Run is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welsh Run
- Clear Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Maugansville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Claylick
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Claylick is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claylick
- State Line
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Marlowe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Marlowe is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlowe
- Williamsport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Halfway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Halfway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Hagerstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- 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>
- Upton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Upton is located in Franklin County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rockdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rockdale.
Newspapers Published in Rockdale ...
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 81 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rockdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rockdale, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rockdale.
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 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 Rockdale:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegany County
- Frederick County
- Adams County
- Bedford County
- Cumberland County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Huntingdon County
- Frederick 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 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> | 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. |
| <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 Rockdale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Rockdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |