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 Sunset Beach (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 Sunset Beach. 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 Sunset Beach ...
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 Sunset Beach: Sunset Bch.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Sunset Beach. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Sunset Beach.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Sunset Beach is located in Cape May 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 Cape May County: Atlantic & Cumberland.
Below are the counties that are near Sunset Beach. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sunset Beach:
- Cape May County (The home county of Sunset Beach)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunset Beach, with the one closest to Sunset Beach listed first.
- North Cape May
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- North Cape May is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cape May
- Cape May
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cape May is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape May
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,404 people
- Cold Spring
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cold Spring is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Erma
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Erma is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erma
- Villas
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Villas is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villas
- Diamond Beach
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Diamond Beach is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Beach
- Rio Grande
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rio Grande is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Grande
- Former name for Rio Grande:
- Crandol Town
- Rio Grande has also been known as:
- Hildreth
- Leamings
- Del Haven
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Del Haven is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Haven
- Norburys Landing
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Norburys Landing is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norburys Landing
- Green Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Creek is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Wildwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wildwood is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,916 people
- Whitesboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Whitesboro is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesboro
- Atlantic County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunset Beach, with the one closest to Sunset Beach listed first.
- Warners Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Warners Mill is located in Atlantic County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warners Mill
- Corbin City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Corbin City is located in Atlantic County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 488 people
- Estell Manor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Estell Manor is located in Atlantic County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estell Manor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,738 people
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunset Beach, with the one closest to Sunset Beach listed first.
- Delmont
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Delmont is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delmont
- Bivalve
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bivalve is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bivalve
- Leesburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Leesburg is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesburg
- Port Norris
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Port Norris is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Norris
- Dorchester
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Dorchester is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorchester
- Dividing Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dividing Creek is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dividing Creek
- Haleyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Haleyville is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleyville
- Mauricetown
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mauricetown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauricetown
- Turkey Point Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Turkey Point Corner is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey Point Corner
- Port Elizabeth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Port Elizabeth is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Elizabeth
- Paynters Crossing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Paynters Crossing is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynters Crossing
- Laurel Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Laurel Lake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Lake
- Kent County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunset Beach, with the one closest to Sunset Beach listed first.
- Woods Haven
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Woods Haven is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Haven
- Bowers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bowers is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 380 people
- Milford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Church Hill Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Church Hill Village is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill Village
- Frederica
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Houston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Magnolia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Little Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riverview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Riverview is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Williamsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Williamsville is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
- Alexanders Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Alexanders Village is located in Kent County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexanders Village
- Sussex County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sunset Beach, with the one closest to Sunset Beach listed first.
- Lewes
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Henlopen Acres
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Henlopen Acres is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henlopen Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Rehoboth Beach
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bald Eagle Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bald Eagle Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Eagle Village
- Nassau
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Dunes Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Dunes Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Dunes Village
- Dewey Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Country Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Country Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Sea Spray Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sea Spray Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sea Spray Village
- Slaughter Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Waples
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Waples is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waples
- Argo Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Argo Corners is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argo Corners
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sunset Beach, see our County-by-County Page for Sunset Beach.
Cemeteries Near Sunset Beach ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sunset Beach.
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 Sunset Beach - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sunset Beach covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sunset Beach, with the one closest to Sunset Beach listed first.
- First Baptist Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview Memorial Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- St. George Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Methodist Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- John Wesley Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Peoples Memorial Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Midway Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hazzard Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Henlopen Memorial Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (60 more) ...
- Holland Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Whites Chapel Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Davis Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
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 Sunset Beach in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sunset Beach.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sunset Beach, with the one closest to Sunset Beach listed first.
- Cape May
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cape May is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape May
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,404 people
- Cold Spring
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cold Spring is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Bennett
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bennett is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett
- Fishing Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fishing Creek is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishing Creek
- Rio Grande
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rio Grande is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Grande
- Former name for Rio Grande:
- Crandol Town
- Rio Grande has also been known as:
- Hildreth
- Leamings
- Green Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Creek is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Creek
- Wildwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wildwood is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,916 people
- Grassy Sound
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grassy Sound is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Sound
- Burleigh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Burleigh is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burleigh
- Anglesea
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Anglesea is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anglesea
- Dias Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dias Creek is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dias Creek
- Cape May Court House
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cape May Court House is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape May Court House
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Lewes
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Goshen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Goshen is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Swain
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Swain is also located in Cape May County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swain
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sunset Beach. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sunset Beach.
Newspapers Published in Sunset Beach ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sunset Beach.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Sunset Beach:
- Websites specific to New Jersey
- Pages specific to Cape May County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Atlantic County
- Cumberland County
- Kent County
- Sussex County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New Jersey
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 Sunset Beach, 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- Sunset Beach) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |