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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 Somers Point (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 Somers Point. 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 Somers Point ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

  • A typical abbreviation for Somers Point: Somers Pt.
  • While the name of this city is Somers Point, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Somers Point may originally have been Somer's Point.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Somers Point might be written as Somer Point.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Somers Point is located in Atlantic 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 Atlantic County: Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester & Ocean.

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

  • Atlantic County     (The home county of Somers Point)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point listed first.
    • Linwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Linwood is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,635 people
    • Bargaintown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bargaintown is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargaintown
    • Northfield
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Northfield is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,047 people
    • Margate City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Margate City is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Margate City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,801 people
    • Ventnor City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Ventnor City is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventnor City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,872 people
    • Pleasantville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Pleasantville is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,060 people
    • West Atlantic City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • West Atlantic City is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Atlantic City
    • Corbin City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Corbin City is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
    • Absecon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Absecon is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Absecon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,789 people
    • Clarkstown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Clarkstown is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkstown
    • Estellville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Estellville is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estellville
    • Estell Manor
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Estell Manor is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estell Manor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
  • Burlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point listed first.
    • Green Bank
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Green Bank is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bank
    • New Gretna
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • New Gretna is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Gretna
    • Wading River
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Wading River is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wading River
    • Batsto Village ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Batsto Village is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batsto Village
      • Batsto Village has also been known as:
      • Batsto
    • Washington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Washington is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,459 people
    • Atsion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Atsion is located in Burlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atsion
  • Camden County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point listed first.
    • Ancora
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ancora is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ancora
    • Waterford Works
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Waterford Works is located in Camden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford Works
      • Waterford Works has also been known as:
      • Waterford
  • Cape May County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point listed first.
    • Ocean City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ocean City is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,902 people
    • Strathmere
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Strathmere is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strathmere
    • Tuckahoe
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Tuckahoe is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
    • Steelmantown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Steelmantown is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steelmantown
    • Mount Pleasant
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Ocean View
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ocean View is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean View
    • Sea Isle City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Sea Isle City is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sea Isle City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,019 people
    • Clermont
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Clermont is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
    • Dennisville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dennisville is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennisville
    • Belleplain
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Belleplain is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleplain
    • South Dennis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • South Dennis is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dennis
    • Eldora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Eldora is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldora
  • Cumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point listed first.
    • Hesstown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Hesstown is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesstown
    • Cumberland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Cumberland is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
    • Delmont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Delmont is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delmont
    • Dorchester
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Dorchester is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
    • Leesburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Leesburg is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesburg
    • Mauricetown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Mauricetown is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauricetown
    • Port Elizabeth
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Port Elizabeth is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Elizabeth
    • Haleyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Haleyville is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleyville
    • Laurel Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Laurel Lake is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Lake
    • Bivalve
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bivalve is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bivalve
    • Port Norris
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Port Norris is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Norris
    • Millville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Millville is located in Cumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,025 people
  • Gloucester County
    • Victory Lakes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Victory Lakes is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victory Lakes
  • Ocean County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point listed first.
    • Mystic Island
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mystic Island is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic Island
    • Holgate
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Holgate is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holgate
    • North Beach Haven
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • North Beach Haven is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Beach Haven
    • Parkertown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Parkertown is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkertown
    • West Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • West Creek is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Creek
    • Eagleswood Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Eagleswood Village is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagleswood Village
    • Staffordville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Staffordville is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staffordville
    • Mayetta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Mayetta is located in Ocean County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayetta
  • Salem County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point listed first.
    • Norma
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Norma is located in Salem County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norma
    • Alliance
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Alliance is located in Salem County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alliance
    • Six Points
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Six Points is located in Salem County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points

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

Cemeteries Near Somers Point ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Somers Point.

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 Somers Point - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Somers Point, with the one closest to Somers Point 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Somers Point had a population of 229 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Somers Point had a population of 10,153 people.

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

  • Steelmanville
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Steelmanville is located in Atlantic County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steelmanville
  • Linwood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Linwood is located in Atlantic County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,635 people
  • Scullville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Scullville is located in Atlantic County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scullville
  • Beesleys Point
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Beesleys Point is located in Cape May County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beesleys Point
  • Ocean City
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Ocean City is located in Cape May County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,902 people
  • Bargaintown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bargaintown is located in Atlantic County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargaintown
  • Marmora
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Marmora is located in Cape May County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmora
  • English Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • English Creek is located in Atlantic County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Creek
  • Palermo
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Palermo is located in Cape May County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
  • Ventnor City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Ventnor City is located in Atlantic County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventnor City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,872 people
  • Pleasantville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pleasantville is located in Atlantic County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,060 people
  • Petersburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Petersburg is located in Cape May County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Tuckahoe
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Tuckahoe is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
    • McKee City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • McKee City is located in Atlantic County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee City
    • Seaville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Seaville is located in Cape May County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seaville

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

Newspapers Published in Somers Point ...

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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Somers Point.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Somers Point, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Somers Point.

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 Somers Point:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<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 Somers Point, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Somers Point) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.