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 Alpha (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 Alpha. 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.
Alpha is located in Northampton County.
To see how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Northampton County: Warren (NJ), Bucks, Carbon, Lehigh & Monroe.
Below are the counties that are near Alpha. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alpha:
- Northampton County (The home county of Alpha)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Wind Gap
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Pen Argyl
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Roseto
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bangor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Village is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Village
- Belfast
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Belfast is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
- Kesslersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kesslersville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesslersville
- Kesslersville has also been known as:
- Alamanda
- Keslers
- Kesslers
- Nisky
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nisky is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nisky
- Stockertown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- East Bangor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- East Bangor is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bangor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,624 people
- Richmond
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Richmond is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Eastlawn Gardens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Eastlawn Gardens is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastlawn Gardens
- Nazareth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bucks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Riegelsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Durham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Durham is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Monroe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Monroe is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Springtown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Kintnersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Upper Black Eddy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Passer
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Passer is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passer
- Pullen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pullen is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullen
- Hilltop
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hilltop is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
- Uhlerstown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Uhlerstown is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uhlerstown
- Ottsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Richlandtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Erwinna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Carbon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Little Gap
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Little Gap is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Gap
- Jonesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Jonesville is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Meckesville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Meckesville is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meckesville
- Palmerton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Palmerton is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,321 people
- Bowmanstown
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hazard
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hazard is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
- Albrightsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kittatinny
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kittatinny is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kittatinny
- Parryville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Weissport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Ashfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Ashfield is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashfield
- Lehighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Unionville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Unionville is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Lackawanna County
- Lehigh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lehigh is located in Lackawanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lehigh
- Lehigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Catasauqua
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coplay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hokendauqua
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hokendauqua is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hokendauqua
- Wellington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wellington is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington
- Rittersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rittersville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rittersville
- Rockdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rockdale is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- West Catasauqua
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Catasauqua is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Catasauqua
- Fountain Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Fountain Hill is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,713 people
- Balliettsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Balliettsville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balliettsville
- Fullerton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Fullerton is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullerton
- Seiple
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Seiple is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seiple
- Slatington
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Allentown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Luzerne County
- Stoddartsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stoddartsville is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoddartsville
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Rossland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rossland is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossland
- Brodheadsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbert
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Appenzell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Appenzell is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Appenzell
- Arlington Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Arlington Heights is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington Heights
- Stroudsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Reeders
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Delaware Water Gap
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Stroudsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- McMichael
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- McMichael is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMichael
- Kresgeville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Long Pond
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Parkside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Parkside is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkside
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Egypt Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt Mills is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt Mills
- La Anna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- La Anna is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Anna
- South Sterling
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Delaware
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Delaware is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaware
- Panther
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Panther is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Schuylkill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Andreas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Mantz
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Mantz is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantz
- Hunterdon County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Hughesville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hughesville is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughesville
- West Portal
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- West Portal is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Portal
- New Hampton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- New Hampton is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hampton
- Pattenburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pattenburg is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pattenburg
- Mount Pleasant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Everittstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Everittstown is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everittstown
- Jutland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Jutland is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jutland
- Mariannes Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Mariannes Corner is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mariannes Corner
- Clinton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Clinton is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,675 people
- Hoffmans
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hoffmans is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffmans
- Readingsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Readingsburg is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Readingsburg
- Califon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Califon is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Califon
- Annandale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Annandale is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annandale
- Morris County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Crestmoore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Crestmoore is located in Morris County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestmoore
- Long Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Long Valley is located in Morris County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Valley
- Budd Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Budd Lake is located in Morris County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Budd Lake
- Naughright
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Naughright is located in Morris County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naughright
- Hacklebarney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hacklebarney is located in Morris County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hacklebarney
- Sussex County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Hardwick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hardwick is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardwick
- Tranquility
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Tranquility is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tranquility
- Middleville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Middleville is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleville
- Waterloo Village ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Waterloo Village is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo Village
- Waterloo Village has also been known as:
- Waterloo
- Brighton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Brighton is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Swartswood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Swartswood is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swartswood
- Crandon Lakes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crandon Lakes is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandon Lakes
- Wallpack Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wallpack Center is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallpack Center
- Newton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Newton is located in Sussex County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,977 people
- Warren County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Belvidere
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Belvidere is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvidere
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,563 people
- Foul Rift ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Foul Rift is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foul Rift
- Harmony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Delaware
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Delaware is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delaware
- Columbia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Phillipsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Phillipsburg is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,238 people
- Hazen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Hazen is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
- Ramseysburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Ramseysburg is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramseysburg
- Montana
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Montana is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montana
- Hainesburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hainesburg is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hainesburg
- Stewartsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stewartsville is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville
- Brass Castle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Brass Castle is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brass Castle
- Mount Hermon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Mount Hermon is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hermon
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alpha, see our County-by-County Page for Alpha.
Cemeteries Near Alpha ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alpha.
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 Alpha - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alpha covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Bruch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Plainfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Evangelical Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Flicksville UCC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flicksville UCC Cemetery
- The Flicksville UCC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Flicksville Cemetery
- Flicksville United Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2189832 <2>
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
- The Trinity Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Mennonite Cemetery
- Continue List (237 more) ...
- Miller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Green Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 Alpha in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alpha.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alpha, with the one closest to Alpha listed first.
- Wind Gap
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Pen Argyl
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Delabole
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Delabole is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delabole
- Ackermanville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ackermanville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackermanville
- West Bangor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Bangor is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bangor
- Saylorsburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Katellen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Katellen is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katellen
- Bushkill Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bushkill Center is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushkill Center
- Belfast
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Belfast is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
- Edelman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Edelman is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edelman
- Flicksville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Flicksville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flicksville
- Bangor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Copella
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Copella is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copella
- Aluta
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Aluta is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aluta
- North Bangor
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Bangor is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bangor
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alpha. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alpha.
Newspapers Published in Alpha ...
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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alpha.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alpha, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alpha.
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 Alpha:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Northampton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bucks County
- Carbon County
- Lackawanna County
- Lehigh County
- Luzerne County
- Monroe County
- Pike County
- Schuylkill County
- Hunterdon County
- Morris County
- Sussex County
- Warren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
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 Alpha, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Alpha) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |