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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 Smeltzer (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 Smeltzer. 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 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.

Smeltzer is located in Frederick 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 Frederick County: Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Washington, Adams (PA), Franklin (PA) & Loudoun (VA).

Below are the counties that are near Smeltzer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smeltzer:

  • Frederick County     (The home county of Smeltzer)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Catoctin Furnace
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Catoctin Furnace is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoctin Furnace
    • Thurmont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Sabillasville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pleasant Walk
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasant Walk is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Walk
    • Jimtown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jimtown is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
    • Myersville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Creagerstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Creagerstown is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creagerstown
    • Mountaindale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Mountaindale is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
    • Frostown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Frostown is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frostown
    • Yellow Springs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Yellow Springs is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Springs
    • Bolivar
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Bolivar is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
    • Charlesville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Charlesville is located in Frederick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
  • Carroll County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Keysville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Keysville is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
    • Bruceville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Bruceville is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville
    • Keymar
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Crabster ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Crabster is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabster
    • Union Bridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Harney
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Harney is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harney
    • Bark Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Bark Hill is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bark Hill
    • Fairground Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Fairground Village is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairground Village
    • Taneytown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Linwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Linwood is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • McKinstrys Mill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • McKinstrys Mill is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinstrys Mill
    • Uniontown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Uniontown is located in Carroll County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
  • Howard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Long Corner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Long Corner is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Corner
    • Lisbon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Timberleigh Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Timberleigh Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberleigh Village
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Hyattstown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hyattstown is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyattstown
    • Browningsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Browningsville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browningsville
    • Dickerson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Barnesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Barnesville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
    • Monocacy ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Monocacy is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monocacy
    • Damascus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Clarksburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Beallsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Blocktown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Blocktown is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocktown
    • Burdette
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Burdette is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
    • Mullinix
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Mullinix is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullinix
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Cavetown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cavetown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
    • Smithsburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pondsville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Pondsville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondsville
    • Greenvale Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Greenvale Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale Village
    • Mount Aetna
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Mount Aetna is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Aetna
    • Mount Lena
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Lena is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lena
    • Chewsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Chewsville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
    • Highfield - Cascade
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Highfield - Cascade is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highfield - Cascade
    • Pen Mar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Leitersburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Leitersburg is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
    • San Mar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • San Mar is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Mar
    • Robinwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Robinwood is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinwood
  • Adams County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Carroll Valley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • 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
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Zora is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
    • Fairfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Virginia Mills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Virginia Mills is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
    • Greenmount
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenmount is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
    • Orrtanna
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • 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
    • Cashtown - McKnightstown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cashtown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cashtown is located in Adams County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
    • 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
    • Gettysburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Cumberland County (PA)
    • Shippensburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Franklin County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Pen Mar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Pen Mar is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
    • Blue Ridge Summit
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Monterey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Monterey is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Rouzerville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Rouzerville is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rouzerville
    • Beartown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Beartown is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
    • Wayne Heights
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Wayne Heights is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne Heights
    • Waynesboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Wingerton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Wingerton is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
    • Zullinger
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Zullinger is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zullinger
    • Nunnery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Nunnery is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnery
    • Waynecastle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Waynecastle is located in Franklin County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynecastle
    • Quincy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • York County (PA)
    • Pennville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pennville is located in York County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
  • Loudoun County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Georges Mill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Georges Mill is located in Loudoun County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Mill
    • Lovettsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Bolington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Bolington is located in Loudoun County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolington
    • Lucketts
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lucketts is located in Loudoun County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucketts
    • Morrisonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Morrisonville is located in Loudoun County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisonville
    • Hillsboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Wheatland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Wheatland is located in Loudoun County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
  • Berkeley County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Scrabble
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Scrabble is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
    • Falling Waters
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Swan Pond
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Swan Pond is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Pond
    • Bedington
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Bedington is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedington
    • Little Georgetown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Little Georgetown is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Georgetown
    • Baker Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Baker Heights is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Heights
    • Hedgesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Martinsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Arden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Arden is located in Berkeley County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
  • Jefferson County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Shepherdstown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Lower Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lower Town is located in Jefferson County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Town
    • Bolivar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Bolivar is located in Jefferson County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,018 people
    • Harpers Ferry
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson Village is located in Jefferson County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Village
    • Charles Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ranson
      (28 miles [45.1 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>
    • Bloomery
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 Smeltzer, with the one closest to Smeltzer listed first.
    • Cherry Run
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Cherry Run is located in Morgan County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
    • Holton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Holton is located in Morgan County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
    • Sleepy Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 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 Smeltzer, see our County-by-County Page for Smeltzer.

Cemeteries Near Smeltzer ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smeltzer.

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 Smeltzer - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Garfield Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Mt. Bethel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Brandenburg Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • St. Marks Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Wolfsville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Browns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Toms Cemetery #2
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Wolfsville Reformed Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Trinity Graveyard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Smithsburg Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Christ Reformed Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (372 more) ...
    • Grossnickles Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • St. Pauls Graveyard
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Walk 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 Smeltzer in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smeltzer.

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

  • Garfield
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Garfield is located in Frederick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
  • Foxville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Foxville is located in Frederick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxville
  • Wolfsville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Wolfsville is located in Frederick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfsville
  • Smithsburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Cavetown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cavetown is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
  • Edgemont
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Edgemont is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgemont
  • Catoctin Furnace
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Catoctin Furnace is located in Frederick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoctin Furnace
  • Beaver Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Beaver Creek is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Creek
  • Pleasant Walk
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Pleasant Walk is located in Frederick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Walk
  • Ellerton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Ellerton is located in Frederick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerton
  • Ringgold
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Ringgold is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
  • Blue Mountain
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Blue Mountain is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Sabillasville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Chewsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Chewsville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
    • Myersville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Smeltzer ...

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 3 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smeltzer.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smeltzer, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smeltzer.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Smeltzer:

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