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 Westover (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 Westover. 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 hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Westover is located in Somerset 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 Somerset County: Wicomico, Worcester & Accomack (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Westover. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westover:
- Somerset County (The home county of Westover)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Manokin
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Somersett Town ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
- Kingston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Kingston is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Costen
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Costen is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costen
- Princess Anne
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Champ
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Champ is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
- Upper Fairmount
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Upper Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fairmount
- West Pocomoke
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- West Pocomoke is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pocomoke
- Oriole
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Rehobeth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Annemessix Towne ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Annemessix Towne is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annemessix Towne
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Crocheron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Crocheron is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocheron
- Elliott
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Bishops Head
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
- Toddville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Toddville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
- Wingate
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Vienna
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Crapo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Crapo is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crapo
- Andrews
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Andrews is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
- Walnut Landing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Walnut Landing is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Landing
- Lakesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lakesville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesville
- Bucktown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bucktown is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Wicomico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Allen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Green Hill Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
- Twiggs Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Capitola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Fruitland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Nanticoke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Dogwood Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Jesterville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jesterville is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
- Bivalve
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tyaskin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Centennial Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Quantico
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Worcester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Pocomoke City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pocomoke City is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocomoke City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,095 people
- Former names for Pocomoke City:
- New Town
- Stevens Landing
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pocomoke City <1>
- Girdletree
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Stockton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Snow Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cedartown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- Newark
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Whaleyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Berlin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sussex County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Delmar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ward
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Laurel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Accomack County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Saxis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Saxis is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
- Withams
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Withams is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withams
- Sign Post
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Post is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Post
- Sinnickson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sinnickson is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinnickson
- Wattsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsville is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Groton Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Groton Town is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton Town
- Hallwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hallwood is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Atlantic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Greenbackville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Temperanceville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin City is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin City
- Bloxom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westover, see our County-by-County Page for Westover.
Cemeteries Near Westover ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westover.
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 Westover - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westover covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Salem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Stephens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Upper Fairmount Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Christ Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fairmount Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Quinton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- All Saints Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Manokin Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Andrews Episcopal Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (139 more) ...
- Landford Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Westover had a population of 678 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westover, with the one closest to Westover listed first.
- Manokin
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Kingston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Kingston is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Edwin ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Edwin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwin
- Upper Fairmount
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Upper Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fairmount
- Costen
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Costen is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costen
- Princess Anne
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Rehobeth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oriole
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Fords Wharf ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fords Wharf is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Wharf
- Tulls Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tulls Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulls Corner
- Monie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Marumsco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Marumsco is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marumsco
- Widgeon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Widgeon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widgeon
- Pocomoke City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pocomoke City is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocomoke City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,095 people
- Former names for Pocomoke City:
- New Town
- Stevens Landing
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pocomoke City <1>
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westover. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westover.
Newspapers Published in Westover ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westover.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westover, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westover.
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 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 Westover:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Somerset County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dorchester County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Sussex County
- Accomack County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maryland
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | 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> | 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 Westover, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Westover) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |