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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 Crystal Lake (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 Crystal Lake. 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.

Name Variations for Crystal Lake ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Crystal Lake: Crystal Lk.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Crystal Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Crystal Lake.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Crystal Lake is located in Ocean County.

To see how the shape of New Jersey's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Ocean County: Atlantic, Burlington & Monmouth.

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

  • Ocean County     (The home county of Crystal Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Lake, with the one closest to Crystal Lake listed first.
    • Double Trouble ‑ Historic
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Double Trouble is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Trouble
    • Bayville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayville is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayville
    • Forked River
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Forked River is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forked River
    • Silver Ridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Silver Ridge is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Ridge
    • Toms River
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Toms River is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toms River
    • Holiday Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Holiday Heights is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Heights
    • Dover Forge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Dover Forge is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover Forge
    • Dover Beaches South
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Dover Beaches South is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover Beaches South
    • Pine Ridge at Crestwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Waretown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Waretown is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waretown
    • Glen Cedar City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Glen Cedar City is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Cedar City
    • Davenport ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Davenport is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
  • Atlantic County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Lake, with the one closest to Crystal Lake listed first.
    • Port Republic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Port Republic is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Republic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
    • Sweetwater
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sweetwater is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetwater
    • Weekstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Weekstown is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weekstown
  • Burlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Lake, with the one closest to Crystal Lake listed first.
    • Chatsworth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Chatsworth is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatsworth
    • Country Lake Estates
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Country Lake Estates is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Lake Estates
    • Presidential Lakes Estates
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Speedwell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Speedwell is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedwell
    • Browns Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Browns Mills is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Mills
    • Jacobstown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Jacobstown is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacobstown
    • Fort Dix
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Fort Dix is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Dix
    • Sooy Place
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Sooy Place is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sooy Place
    • New Gretna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • New Gretna is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Gretna
    • Wading River
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Wading River is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wading River
    • Washington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Washington is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,459 people
    • Ellisdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ellisdale is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellisdale
  • Mercer County
    • Twin Rivers
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Twin Rivers is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Rivers
  • Monmouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Lake, with the one closest to Crystal Lake listed first.
    • Ramtown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Ramtown is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramtown
    • Allenwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Allenwood is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenwood
    • Maxim
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Maxim is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxim
    • Allaire Village ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Allaire Village is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allaire Village
      • Allaire Village has also been known as:
      • Allaire
    • Squankum
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Squankum is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squankum
    • West Belmar
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • West Belmar is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Belmar
    • Shark River Hills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Shark River Hills is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shark River Hills
    • Belmar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Belmar is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmar
    • Prospertown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Prospertown is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospertown
    • Ardena
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Ardena is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardena
    • Avon-by-the-Sea
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Avon-by-the-Sea is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon-by-the-Sea
    • Hornerstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hornerstown is located in Monmouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornerstown

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

Cemeteries Near Crystal Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Crystal Lake.

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 Crystal Lake - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Bayville Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayville Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Bayville Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Bayville.
    • The Bayville Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bayview Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1653882 <1>
  • Good Luck Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Dover Chapel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Cedar Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Maximillian Kolbe RC Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Ocean County Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean County Memorial Park
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Ocean County Memorial Park is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Ocean.
    • The Ocean County Memorial Park has also been known as:
    • Ocean Community Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #100147 <1>
  • Old Waretown Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • B'nai Israel Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Toms River Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Silverton Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (64 more) ...
    • Masonic Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • St. Marys Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ocean County Memorial Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)

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>

While we didn't find Crystal Lake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Crystal Lake.

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

  • Bayville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayville is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayville
  • Forked River
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Forked River is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forked River
  • Toms River
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Toms River is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toms River
  • Waretown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Waretown is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waretown
  • Silverton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Silverton is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverton
  • Davenport ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Davenport is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport
  • Chadwick
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Chadwick is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwick
  • Osbornsville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Osbornsville is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osbornsville
  • Whiting
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Whiting is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiting
  • Beach View
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Beach View is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach View
  • Whitesville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Whitesville is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesville
  • Wheatland
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Wheatland is located in Ocean County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Buckingham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Buckingham is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckingham
    • Manahawkin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Manahawkin is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manahawkin
    • Long Beach
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Long Beach is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Beach

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

Newspapers Published in Crystal Lake ...

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 Crystal Lake.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Crystal Lake, there are papers which were published within 4 miles [6.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Crystal Lake.

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 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 Crystal Lake:

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Crystal Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Crystal Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.