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 Westwood (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 Westwood. 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.
Westwood is located in Wicomico 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 Wicomico County: Sussex (DE), Dorchester, Somerset & Worcester.
Below are the counties that are near Westwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westwood:
- Wicomico County (The home county of Westwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Salisbury
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cedar Hurst Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Hurst Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hurst Village
- Dogwood Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- White Plains
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- White Plains is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Centennial Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Rockawalking Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rockawalking Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockawalking Village
- Fruitland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Delmar
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hebron
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Parsonsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Allen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Twiggs Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Quantico
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Federalsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hynson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hynson is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynson
- Preston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grove is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Walnut Landing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Landing is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Landing
- Galestown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Galestown is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Rabbit Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Vienna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brookview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brookview is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Eldorado
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Eldorado is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Reliance
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Reliance is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Rhodesdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Finchville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Finchville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchville
- Salem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Salem is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Marshyhope Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marshyhope Village is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshyhope Village
- Linkwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Linkwood is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linkwood
- Elliott
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Eden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Eden is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Loretto
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Loretto is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Princess Anne
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mount Vernon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Monie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Oriole
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Westover
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Champ
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Champ is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
- Somersett Town ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
- Costen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Costen is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costen
- West Pocomoke
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- West Pocomoke is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pocomoke
- Manokin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Dames Quarter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Worcester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Whaleyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Snow Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Newark
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cedartown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- Berlin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bishop
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bishop is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Showell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Showell is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Showell
- Pocomoke City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Bishopville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Girdletree
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Ocean Pines
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Ocean City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- West Ocean City is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ocean City
- Sussex County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Delmar
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Ward
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Laurel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bethel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Blades
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Blades is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blades
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Mission
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mission is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Reliance
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Reliance is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Seaford
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Heritage Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Heritage Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Village
- Ross
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ross is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Selbyville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Briar Hook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Briar Hook is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Hook
- Dagsboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Accomack County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Sign Post
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sign Post is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Post
- Greenbackville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sinnickson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sinnickson is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinnickson
- Franklin City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin City is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin City
- Withams
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Withams is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withams
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Westwood, see our County-by-County Page for Westwood.
Cemeteries Near Westwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westwood.
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 Westwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Parsons Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hustons Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Wicomico Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Hill Memorial Garden
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Palmer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nichols Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Stephens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hebron Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hammond Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oliphant Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Allen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (212 more) ...
- Brown Family Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jerusalem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Melson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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 Westwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westwood.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westwood, with the one closest to Westwood listed first.
- Salisbury
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Fruitland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Whayland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Whayland is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whayland
- Walston
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Walston is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walston
- Delmar
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hebron
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Allen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Eden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Eden is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Parsonsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Quantico
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Loretto
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Loretto is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Wango
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wango is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Columbia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Columbia is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Pittsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Ward
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Westwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westwood.
Newspapers Published in Westwood ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westwood, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westwood.
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 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 Westwood:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Wicomico County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caroline County
- Dorchester County
- Somerset 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> | 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 Westwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Westwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |