RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Maryland >> Washington County >> Rocky Forge >> 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 Rocky Forge (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 Rocky Forge. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Rocky Forge 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 Rocky Forge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rocky Forge:

  • Washington County     (The home county of Rocky Forge)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Hill Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Hill Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Village
    • Leitersburg
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Leitersburg is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
    • Smithsburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Pen Mar
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • 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
    • Cavetown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Cavetown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
    • Chewsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Chewsville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
    • Greenvale Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Greenvale Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale Village
    • Paramount - Long Meadow
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Highfield - Cascade
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Highfield - Cascade is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highfield - Cascade
    • Pondsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Pondsville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondsville
    • Bridgeport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bridgeport is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Fountainhead - Orchard Hills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Long Meadow
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Long Meadow is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Meadow
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Keysville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Keysville is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
    • Bruceville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Bruceville is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville
    • Crabster ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Crabster is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabster
    • Harney
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Harney is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harney
    • Keymar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Taneytown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Fairground Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Fairground Village is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairground Village
    • Bark Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Bark Hill is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bark Hill
    • Union Bridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Linwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Linwood is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • McKinstrys Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • McKinstrys Mill is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinstrys Mill
    • Uniontown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Uniontown is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
    • Tyrone
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Tyrone is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
  • Frederick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Sabillasville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Pleasant Walk
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Pleasant Walk is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Walk
    • Thurmont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Catoctin Furnace
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Catoctin Furnace is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoctin Furnace
    • Jimtown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jimtown is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
    • Myersville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Emmitsburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Frostown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Frostown is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frostown
    • Creagerstown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Creagerstown is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creagerstown
    • Mountaindale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mountaindale is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
    • Bolivar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Bolivar is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
    • Rocky Ridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Charlesville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Charlesville is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
  • Adams County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Carroll Valley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Jacks Mountain
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Jacks Mountain is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacks Mountain
    • Fairfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Zora
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Zora is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
    • Virginia Mills
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Virginia Mills is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
    • Orrtanna
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenmount
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Greenmount is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
    • Cashtown - McKnightstown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Cashtown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cashtown is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
    • McKnightstown Station
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • McKnightstown Station is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKnightstown Station
    • Seven Stars
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Seven Stars is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
    • Trust
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Trust is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
    • Mummasburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mummasburg is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mummasburg
  • Cumberland County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Shippensburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Lees Cross Roads
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lees Cross Roads is located in Cumberland County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Cross Roads
    • Newburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Newburg is located in Cumberland County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newburg <1>
    • Big Spring
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Big Spring is located in Cumberland County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
    • Huntsdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntsdale is located in Cumberland County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsdale
  • Franklin County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Waynesboro
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Zullinger
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Zullinger is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zullinger
    • Wayne Heights
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Wayne Heights is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne Heights
    • Wingerton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Wingerton is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
    • Rouzerville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Rouzerville is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rouzerville
    • Waynecastle
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Waynecastle is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynecastle
    • Beartown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Beartown is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
    • Pen Mar
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Pen Mar is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
    • Nunnery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Nunnery is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnery
    • Shady Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Shady Grove is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
    • Quincy
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Blue Ridge Summit
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Clay Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Clay Hill is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Hill
  • Fulton County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Websters Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Websters Mill is located in Fulton County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Websters Mill
    • McConnellsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Knobsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Knobsville is located in Fulton County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobsville
    • Burnt Cabins
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnt Cabins is located in Fulton County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Cabins
    • Covalt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Covalt is located in Fulton County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covalt
    • Needmore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Fort Littleton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Harrisonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Harrisonville is located in Fulton County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisonville
    • Pleasant Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pleasant Ridge is located in Fulton County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
  • Loudoun County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Georges Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Georges Mill is located in Loudoun County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Mill
    • Lovettsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Berkeley County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Falling Waters
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Bedington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bedington is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedington
    • Little Georgetown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Little Georgetown is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Georgetown
    • Scrabble
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Scrabble is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
    • Swan Pond
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Swan Pond is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Pond
    • Hedgesville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Baker Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Baker Heights is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Heights
    • Martinsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Jefferson County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.
    • Shepherdstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bolivar
      (28 miles [45.1 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Lower Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Lower Town is located in Jefferson County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Town
    • Bardane
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bardane is located in Jefferson County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bardane
    • Jefferson Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson Village is located in Jefferson County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Village
  • Morgan County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge 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
    • Hancock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Hancock is located in Morgan County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rocky Forge, see our County-by-County Page for Rocky Forge.

Cemeteries Near Rocky Forge ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rocky Forge.

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 Rocky Forge - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rocky Forge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.

  • Green Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Millers Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • St. James Graveyard
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • 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 <2>
  • Welty Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Ringgold Graveyard
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Stouffers Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Harbaugh Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Beards Graveyard
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Smithsburg Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Trinity Graveyard
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • St. Pauls Graveyard
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (320 more) ...
    • Antietam Church Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Paradise Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Longmeadow Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)

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 Rocky Forge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rocky Forge.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Rocky Forge, with the one closest to Rocky Forge listed first.

  • Leitersburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Leitersburg is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
  • Ringgold
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Ringgold is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
  • Waynesboro
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Zullinger
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Zullinger is located in Franklin County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zullinger
  • Midvale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Midvale is located in Franklin County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
  • Wingerton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Wingerton is located in Franklin County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
  • Smithsburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Edgemont
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Edgemont is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgemont
  • Blue Mountain
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Blue Mountain is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
  • Roadside
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Roadside is located in Franklin County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roadside
  • Chewsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Chewsville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
  • Cavetown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Cavetown is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Five Forks
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Five Forks is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
    • Pen Mar
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Pen Mar is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
    • Nunnery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Nunnery is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnery

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rocky Forge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rocky Forge.

Newspapers Published in Rocky Forge ...

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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rocky Forge.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rocky Forge, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rocky Forge.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Rocky Forge:

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 Rocky Forge, 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' (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- Rocky Forge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.