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 Branchdale (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 Branchdale. 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 hospitals 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.
Branchdale is located in Schuylkill 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 Schuylkill County: Berks, Carbon, Columbia, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne & Northumberland.
Below are the counties that are near Branchdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Branchdale:
- Schuylkill County (The home county of Branchdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Forestville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Forestville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Newtown
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Newtown is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Zerbe
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Zerbe is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zerbe
- Llewellyn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Buck Run
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Buck Run is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck Run
- Forrestville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Forrestville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrestville
- Glendower
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Glendower is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendower
- Minersville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Marlin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Marlin is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlin
- Heckscherville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Heckscherville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heckscherville
- Beurys Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Beurys Lake is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beurys Lake
- Tremont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tremont is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,656 people
- Donaldson
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Donaldson is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Berks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Schubert
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Schubert is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schubert
- Bethel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Meckville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Meckville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meckville
- Strausstown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rehrersburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rehrersburg is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehrersburg
- Shartlesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Schaefferstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Schaefferstown is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Schaefferstown
- Mount Aetna
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wintersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wintersville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wintersville
- Berne
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Berne is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berne
- Bernville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hamburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Centerport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Carbon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Lansford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tresckow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tresckow is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tresckow
- Beaver Meadows
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coxes Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coxes Village is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxes Village
- Coxes Village has also been known as:
- Cross Village
- New Mahoning
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- New Mahoning is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Mahoning
- Hudsondale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hudsondale is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudsondale
- Nesquehoning
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Summit Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Locustdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Centralia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Aristes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Aristes is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aristes
- Newlin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Newlin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlin
- Numidia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Numidia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numidia
- Slabtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Slabtown is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Queen City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Queen City is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Shumans
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Shumans is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumans
- Catawissa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mainville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mainville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mainville
- Rupert
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rupert is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rupert
- Espy
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Espy is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Espy
- Grovania
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Grovania is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovania
- Dauphin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Williamstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dayton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Erdman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Erdman is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erdman
- Gratz
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lykens
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Loyalton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Loyalton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyalton
- Pillow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Carsonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carsonville is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsonville
- Grantville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Berrysburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Elizabethville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Shellsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shellsville is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shellsville
- Enders
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Enders is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enders
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Cocalico
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cocalico is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cocalico
- Blainsport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Blainsport is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsport
- Brickerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hopeland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hopeland is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeland
- Poplar Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Poplar Grove is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Grove
- Lebanon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Gold Mine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gold Mine is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Mine
- Murray
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Murray is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Fredericksburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Greble
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Greble is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greble
- Inwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Inwood is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Mount Zion
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mount Zion is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Green Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Green Point is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Point
- Lickdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lickdale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickdale
- Jonestown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Myerstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bunker Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bunker Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Richland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Fort Indiantown Gap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Indiantown Gap is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Indiantown Gap
- Lehigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Jacksonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Stines Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Stines Corner is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stines Corner
- Lochland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lochland is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lochland
- Luzerne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Newtown
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Newtown is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Mountain Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mountain Grove is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Tomhicken
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Tomhicken is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomhicken
- Harwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Harwood is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwood
- Conyngham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sybertsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Hazleton
(26 miles [41.8 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
- East Berwick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Berwick is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Berwick
- Nescopeck
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hazleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Beach Haven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Beach Haven is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Haven
- Harleigh
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ebervale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ebervale is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebervale
- Montour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Mechanicsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mechanicsville is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Danville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mooresburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mooresburg is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresburg
- Northumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Alaska
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Alaska is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alaska
- Locust Gap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Locust Gap is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Gap
- Dooleyville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dooleyville is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooleyville
- Mount Carmel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gowen City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gowen City is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowen City
- Natalie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Natalie is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natalie
- Marshallton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Marshallton is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshallton
- Bear Gap
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Gap is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Gap
- Shamokin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Valley is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Edgewood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Edgewood is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Kulpmont
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leck Kill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Leck Kill is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leck Kill
- Snyder County
- The following are listed by their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Shamokin Dam
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dundore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dundore is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundore
- Port Trevorton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Chapman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Chapman is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Hummels Wharf
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Selinsgrove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Branchdale, see our County-by-County Page for Branchdale.
Cemeteries Near Branchdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Branchdale.
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 Branchdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Branchdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Mt. Peace Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Welsh Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Donaldson Community Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Yorkville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hollernan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Friends Burying Ground
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. Joseph's Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Brock Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Christ Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sunnyside Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (199 more) ...
- St. Marys Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Manbeck Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gunkles Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Branchdale had a population of 813 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Branchdale, with the one closest to Branchdale listed first.
- Steins
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Steins is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steins
- Swatara
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Swatara is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swatara
- Blackwood
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Blackwood is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwood
- Silverton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Silverton is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverton
- Llewellyn
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Glendower
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Glendower is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendower
- Minersville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tremont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tremont is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,656 people
- Heckscherville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Heckscherville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heckscherville
- Donaldson
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Donaldson is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Gordon
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- East Franklin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Franklin is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Franklin
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Rausch Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rausch Creek is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rausch Creek
- De Turksville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- De Turksville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Turksville
- Friedensburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Branchdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Branchdale.
Newspapers Published in Branchdale ...
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 105 newspapers that have been published in the area around Branchdale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Branchdale, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Branchdale.
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 either 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 Branchdale:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Schuylkill County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berks County
- Carbon County
- Columbia County
- Dauphin County
- Lancaster County
- Lebanon County
- Lehigh County
- Luzerne County
- Montour County
- Northumberland County
- Snyder 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 Branchdale, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Branchdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |