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 Big Mountain (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 Big Mountain. 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 Big Mountain ...
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 Big Mountain: Big Mtn. (or less commonly used: Big Mntn.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Mountain. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big Mountain.
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 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 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.
Big Mountain is located in Northumberland 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 Northumberland County: Columbia, Dauphin, Lycoming, Montour, Schuylkill, Snyder & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Big Mountain. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Mountain:
- Northumberland County (The home county of Big Mountain)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Marshallton
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Marshallton is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshallton
- Shamokin
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gowen City
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gowen City is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowen City
- Edgewood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Edgewood is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Bear Valley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bear Valley is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Locust Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Locust Gap is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Gap
- Bear Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bear Gap is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Gap
- Kulpmont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Natalie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Natalie is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natalie
- Alaska
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Alaska is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alaska
- Dooleyville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Dooleyville is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooleyville
- Elysburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Leck Kill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leck Kill is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leck Kill
- Berks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Meckville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Meckville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meckville
- Bethel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Schubert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Schubert is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schubert
- Rehrersburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rehrersburg is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehrersburg
- Strausstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Aetna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wintersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wintersville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wintersville
- Shartlesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Schaefferstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Schaefferstown is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Schaefferstown
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Locustdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Aristes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Aristes is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aristes
- Centralia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Numidia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Numidia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numidia
- Newlin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newlin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlin
- Queen City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Queen City is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Slabtown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Slabtown is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Catawissa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Grovania
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Grovania is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovania
- Rupert
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rupert is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rupert
- Bloomsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Fernville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Fernville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernville
- Mainville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mainville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mainville
- Dauphin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Erdman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Erdman is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erdman
- Williamstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Gratz
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lykens
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pillow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Berrysburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Loyalton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Loyalton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyalton
- Elizabethville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carsonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Carsonville is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsonville
- Rife
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Rife is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rife
- Paxton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Paxton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Enders
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Enders is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enders
- Juniata County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Knousetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Knousetown is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knousetown
- Richfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lebanon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Gold Mine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Gold Mine is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Mine
- Murray
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Murray is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Green Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Green Point is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Point
- Inwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Inwood is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Lickdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lickdale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickdale
- Fort Indiantown Gap
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Fort Indiantown Gap is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Indiantown Gap
- Fredericksburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jonestown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Greble
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Greble is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greble
- Bunker Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bunker Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Mount Zion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mount Zion is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Heilmandale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Heilmandale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilmandale
- Sand Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sand Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Luzerne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Newtown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Newtown is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Mountain Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Grove is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- East Berwick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Berwick is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Berwick
- Nescopeck
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tomhicken
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tomhicken is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomhicken
- Beach Haven
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Haven is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Haven
- Sybertsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Conyngham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Harwood is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood
- New Columbus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- New Columbus is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Columbus
- Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
- West Hazleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Hazleton is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hazleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,318 people
- Montour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Danville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsville is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Mooresburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mooresburg is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresburg
- Washingtonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Washingtonville is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washingtonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Exchange
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Exchange is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exchange
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Liverpool
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pfoutz Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pfoutz Valley is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pfoutz Valley
- Schuylkill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Pitman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Haas
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Haas is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
- Lavelle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lavelle - Locustdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lavelle - Locustdale is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavelle - Locustdale
- Hegins
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Valley View
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Beurys Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Beurys Lake is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beurys Lake
- Rough and Ready
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rough and Ready is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough and Ready
- Ashland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fountain
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain
- Fountain Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Fountain Springs is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain Springs
- Gordon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Buck Run
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Buck Run is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Run
- Snyder County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Hummels Wharf
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Shamokin Dam
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dundore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dundore is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundore
- Port Trevorton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Selinsgrove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Chapman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Chapman is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Kratzerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kratzerville is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kratzerville
- Freeburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Freeburg is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Hoffer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hoffer is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffer
- McKees Half Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- McKees Half Falls is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKees Half Falls
- Kreamer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pallas
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pallas is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pallas
- Aline
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Aline is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aline
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Dry Valley Crossroads
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lewisburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Linntown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Linntown is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linntown
- West Milton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Milton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milton
- New Columbia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Berlin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Mazeppa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mazeppa is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mazeppa
- Mifflinburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Allenwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bank
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bank is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Mountain, see our County-by-County Page for Big Mountain.
Cemeteries Near Big Mountain ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Mountain.
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 Big Mountain - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Mountain covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- St. Stanislaus Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shamokin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jacobs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Peter's Reformed Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- All Saints Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Tifereth Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Summit Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sunnyside Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (185 more) ...
- St. Andrew's UMC Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Brock Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Trinity Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
While we didn't find Big Mountain in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Mountain.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Mountain, with the one closest to Big Mountain listed first.
- Greenback
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Greenback is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenback
- Gowen City
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Gowen City is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowen City
- Excelsior
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Excelsior is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Shamokin
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pitman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sagon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sagon is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagon
- Line Mountain
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Line Mountain is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Line Mountain
- Helfenstein
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Helfenstein is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helfenstein
- Locust Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Locust Gap is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Gap
- Bear Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bear Gap is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Gap
- Cabel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cabel is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabel
- Kulps
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kulps is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kulps
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Hepler
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hepler is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepler
- Kehler
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Kehler is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kehler
- Haas
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Haas is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Mountain. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Mountain.
Newspapers Published in Big Mountain ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Mountain.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Mountain, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Mountain.
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 Big Mountain:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Northumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berks County
- Columbia County
- Dauphin County
- Juniata County
- Lebanon County
- Luzerne County
- Montour County
- Perry County
- Schuylkill County
- Snyder County
- Union 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 Big Mountain, 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 from Point A (ie- Big Mountain) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |