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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 Westphalia (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 Westphalia. 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.

Westphalia is located in Prince George's 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 Prince George's County: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Alexandria City (VA) & Fairfax (VA).

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

  • Prince George's County     (The home county of Westphalia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Kettering
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Kettering is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettering
    • Largo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Upper Marlboro
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Forestville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Lake Arbor
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Lake Arbor is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Arbor
    • Randolph Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Randolph Village is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph Village
    • Walker Mill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Walker Mill is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker Mill
    • District Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Morningside
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Morningside is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morningside
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,279 people
    • Brightseat
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Brightseat is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightseat
    • Marlton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Marlton is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlton
    • Camp Springs
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Auth Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Auth Village is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auth Village
  • Anne Arundel County
  • Baltimore City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Brooklyn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Brooklyn is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Curtis Bay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Curtis Bay is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis Bay
    • Oaklee Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Oaklee Village is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaklee Village
    • Beechfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Carroll
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Carroll is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Violetville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Baltimore County
  • Calvert County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Chaney
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Dunkirk Town Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Dunkirk Town Center is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkirk Town Center
    • Dunkirk
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Apple Greene
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Penwick Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Penwick Village is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penwick Village
    • Lower Marlboro Towne
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lower Marlboro Towne is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Marlboro Towne
    • Owings Town Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Owings Town Center is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owings Town Center
    • Owings
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Academy Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunderland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Beach
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Chesapeake Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Huntingtown Town Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Charles County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Mattawoman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Mattawoman is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattawoman
    • White Oak Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • White Oak Village is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Village
    • Acton Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Acton Village is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton Village
    • Malcolm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Waldorf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Westlake Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Westlake Village is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Village
    • Huntington Townhouses
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Saint Charles
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Saint Charles is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
    • White Plains
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • White Plains Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • White Plains Village is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains Village
    • Bennsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bennsville is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennsville
    • Bryantown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Bryans Road
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Howard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Leishear Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Leishear Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leishear Village
    • North Laurel
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • North Laurel is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Laurel
    • Savage
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Fulton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Glenshire Towne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Glenshire Towne is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenshire Towne
    • Hammond Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Hammond Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond Village
    • Scaggsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Aladdin Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Aladdin Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin Village
    • Guilford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Oak View Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Oak View Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak View Village
    • Simpsonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Simpsonville is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsonville
    • Highland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Woodland Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Woodland Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Takoma Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Clifton Park Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Clifton Park Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Park Village
    • Hillandale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hillandale is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillandale
    • Indian Spring Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Spring Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Spring Village
    • Silver Spring
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Burnt Mills Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnt Mills Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Mills Village
    • Burnt Mills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Chevy Chase Section Five
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Chevy Chase Section Five is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevy Chase Section Five
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
    • Chevy Chase Section Three
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Chevy Chase Section Three is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevy Chase Section Three
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 794 people
    • Chevy Chase Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Chevy Chase Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevy Chase Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,050 people
    • Linden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Martin's Additions
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Martin's Additions is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin's Additions
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 991 people
    • White Oak
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • White Oak is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
  • Queen Anne's County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Mattapex
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Bay City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bay City is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
    • Stevensville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Chester
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Cheslou Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cheslou Village is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheslou Village
  • Saint Mary's County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Charlotte Hall
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Golden Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Golden Beach is located in Saint Mary's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Beach
    • Mechanicsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Budds Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Talbot County
  • Alexandria City (VA)
  • Arlington County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Arlington Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Arlington Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington Village
    • Colonial Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Colonial Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Lyon Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Lyon Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Village
    • Riverwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Arlington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Brandon Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Brandon Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon Village
    • Buckingham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Cherrydale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Garden City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Garden City is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Williamsburg Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Williamsburg Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg Village
  • Fairfax City (VA)
  • Fairfax County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westphalia, with the one closest to Westphalia listed first.
    • Belle Haven
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Huntington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Huntington is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
    • Fort Hunt
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fort Hunt is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Hunt
    • Burgundy Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Burgundy Village is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgundy Village
    • Groveton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Groveton is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveton
    • Penn Daw Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Penn Daw Village is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn Daw Village
    • Hybla Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hybla Valley is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybla Valley
    • Rose Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Rose Hill is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill
    • Mount Vernon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Baileys Crossroads
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Lincolnia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Lincolnia is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnia
    • Franconia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Lake Barcroft
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Lake Barcroft is located in Fairfax County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Barcroft
  • Falls Church City (VA)
  • Prince William County (VA)

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

Cemeteries Near Westphalia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westphalia.

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

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

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

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Westphalia had a post office and no railroad service.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Westphalia ...

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 17 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westphalia.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westphalia, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westphalia.

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 helpful 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 Westphalia:

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>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- Westphalia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<5>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 Westphalia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.