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 Bowers (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 Bowers. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
Bowers is located in Berks 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 Berks County: Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery & Schuylkill.
Below are the counties that are near Bowers. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bowers:
- Berks County (The home county of Bowers)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Lyon Station
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lyon Station is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Station
- Dryville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Dryville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryville
- Sally Ann ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sally Ann is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sally Ann
- Hinterleiter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hinterleiter is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinterleiter
- Topton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kutztown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hancock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hancock is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Monterey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Monterey is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Schofer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Schofer is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofer
- Eagle Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Eagle Point is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point
- Fleetwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lobachsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lobachsville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lobachsville
- Landis Store
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Landis Store is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landis Store
- Bucks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Steinsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Steinsburg is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steinsburg
- Milford Square
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Milford Square is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford Square
- Zionhill
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Zionhill is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zionhill
- Hilltop
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hilltop is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
- Shelly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Shelly is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelly
- Trumbauersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Argus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Argus is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argus
- Passer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Passer is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passer
- Quakertown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rich Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rich Hill is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Hill
- Richlandtown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pullen
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pullen is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullen
- Richland Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Richland Center is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland Center
- Carbon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Germans
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Germans is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germans
- Ashfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ashfield is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashfield
- Hazard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hazard is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
- Kittatinny
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Kittatinny is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kittatinny
- New Mahoning
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- New Mahoning is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Mahoning
- Bowmanstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mertz Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mertz Town is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mertz Town
- Palmerton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Palmerton is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,321 people
- Lehighton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Parryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Weissport
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lansford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Jim Thorpe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Jim Thorpe is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Thorpe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,650 people
- Former names for Jim Thorpe:
- East Mauch Chunk
- Mauch Chunk
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jim Thorpe <1>
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Pottstown Landing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Pottstown Landing is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown Landing
- South Pottstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- South Pottstown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pottstown
- Kenilworth
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Kenilworth is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenilworth
- Fricks Lock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fricks Lock is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fricks Lock
- Bucktown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Bucktown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Coventryville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Coventryville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventryville
- Knauertown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Knauertown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knauertown
- Parker Ford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Parker Ford is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Ford
- Pughtown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pughtown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pughtown
- Slonaker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Slonaker is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slonaker
- Elverson
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Nantmeal Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Nantmeal Village is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantmeal Village
- Seven Stars
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Seven Stars is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Blainsport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Blainsport is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsport
- Churchtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cocalico
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cocalico is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cocalico
- Denver
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Reamstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Red Run
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Red Run is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Run
- Terre Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beartown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Beartown is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
- Stevens
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Weaverland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Weaverland is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaverland
- Blue Ball
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- East Earl
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hinkletown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hinkletown is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkletown
- Lebanon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Newmanstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sheridan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sheridan is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Stricklerstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stricklerstown is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stricklerstown
- Richland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Myerstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lehigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- New Smithville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- New Smithville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Smithville
- Alburtis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hensingersville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hensingersville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hensingersville
- Hynemansville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hynemansville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynemansville
- Weisenberg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Weisenberg is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weisenberg
- Seipstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Seipstown is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seipstown
- Wallner ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wallner is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallner
- Stines Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Stines Corner is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stines Corner
- Ancient Oaks
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ancient Oaks is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ancient Oaks
- Macungie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Chapman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Old Zionsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Old Zionsville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Zionsville
- Powder Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Powder Valley is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powder Valley
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Palm
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Congo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Congo is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congo
- Fruitville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fruitville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitville
- East Greenville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gilbertsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pennsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Run is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Halfway House
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Halfway House is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway House
- Anise
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Anise is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anise
- New Hanover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Red Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hoppenville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hoppenville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoppenville
- Pottsgrove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pottsgrove is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottsgrove
- Northampton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- North Catasauqua
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- North Catasauqua is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Catasauqua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,825 people
- Northampton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Seidersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Seidersville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidersville
- Lockport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lockport is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockport
- Star Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Star Village is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Village
- Howertown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Howertown is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howertown
- Howertown has also been known as:
- Hauertown
- Howardtown
- Howartown
- Howeton
- Kreidersville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kreidersville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kreidersville
- Walnutport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Weaversville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Weaversville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaversville
- Berlinsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Berlinsville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlinsville
- Bethlehem
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cherryville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Schuylkill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Port Clinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mantz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Mantz is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantz
- Rene Mont
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rene Mont is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rene Mont
- Andreas
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Deer Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Deer Lake is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 645 people
- Rauschs
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rauschs is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rauschs
- McKeansburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- McKeansburg is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKeansburg
- New Ringgold
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Auburn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Landingville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Landingville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landingville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Jefferson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Jefferson is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Orwigsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Aucheys
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Aucheys is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheys
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bowers, see our County-by-County Page for Bowers.
Cemeteries Near Bowers ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bowers.
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 Bowers - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bowers covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Union Cemetery of Bowers
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery of Bowers
- The Union Cemetery of Bowers has also been known as:
- Bowers Cemetery
- Christ DeLong's Cemetery
- Christ DeLong UCC Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Topton Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topton Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Topton Union Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Topton.
- The Topton Union Cemetery has also been known as:
- Topton Cemetery
- Union Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1992380 <2>
- Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fleetwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Longswamp Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Pauls Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Zion Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (364 more) ...
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Zion Moselem Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lesher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Bowers in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bowers.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bowers, with the one closest to Bowers listed first.
- Lyon Station
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lyon Station is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Station
- Dryville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Dryville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryville
- New Jerusalem
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- New Jerusalem is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Jerusalem
- Topton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hinterleiter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hinterleiter is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinterleiter
- Kutztown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fredericksville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fredericksville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksville
- Hancock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hancock is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Schofer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Schofer is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofer
- Fleetwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Eagle Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Eagle Point is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point
- Longswamp
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Longswamp is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longswamp
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Mertztown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Maxatawny
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Maxatawny is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxatawny
- Walnuttown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Walnuttown is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnuttown
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bowers. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bowers.
Newspapers Published in Bowers ...
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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bowers.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bowers, 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 Bowers.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Bowers:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Berks County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bucks County
- Carbon County
- Chester County
- Lancaster County
- Lebanon County
- Lehigh County
- Montgomery County
- Northampton County
- Schuylkill 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 Bowers, 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- Bowers) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |