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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 Clayton (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 Clayton. 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 and 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.

Clayton 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 Clayton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clayton:

  • Berks County     (The home county of Clayton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Lyons
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Lyons is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 478 people
    • Dale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Dale is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
    • Huffs Church
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Huffs Church is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffs Church
    • Eshbach
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Eshbach is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eshbach
    • Red Lion
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Lion is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Lion
    • Rittenhouse Gap
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Rittenhouse Gap is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rittenhouse Gap
    • Bechtelsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Landis Store
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Landis Store is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landis Store
    • Boyertown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Springs Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hancock
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hancock is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
    • Colebrookdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Colebrookdale is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colebrookdale
  • Bucks County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Steinsburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Steinsburg is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steinsburg
    • Milford Square
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Milford Square is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford Square
    • Argus
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Argus is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argus
    • Trumbauersville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Zionhill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Zionhill is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zionhill
    • Hilltop
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hilltop is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
    • Shelly
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Shelly is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelly
    • Quakertown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Rich Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Rich Hill is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Hill
    • Richlandtown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Derstines
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Derstines is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derstines
    • Passer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Passer is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passer
  • Carbon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Germans
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Germans is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germans
    • Kittatinny
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Kittatinny is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kittatinny
    • Ashfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Ashfield is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashfield
    • Hazard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Hazard is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
    • Palmerton
      (26 miles [41.8 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
    • Bowmanstown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Little Gap
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Little Gap is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Gap
    • Parryville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Weissport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • New Mahoning
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • New Mahoning is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Mahoning
    • Lehighton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Mertz Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Mertz Town is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mertz Town
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • South Pottstown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • South Pottstown is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pottstown
    • Fricks Lock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Fricks Lock is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fricks Lock
    • Kenilworth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Kenilworth is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenilworth
    • Pottstown Landing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Pottstown Landing is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown Landing
    • Parker Ford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Parker Ford is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Ford
    • Slonaker
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Slonaker is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slonaker
    • Spring City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Bucktown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Bucktown is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
    • Seven Stars
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Seven Stars is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
    • Coventryville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Coventryville is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventryville
    • Pughtown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Pughtown is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pughtown
    • Knauertown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Knauertown is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knauertown
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Saint Davids
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Ithan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ithan is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ithan
    • Radnor Station
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Radnor Station is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radnor Station
    • Radnor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wayne
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Green Countrie Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Montrose Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Montrose Village is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose Village
    • Rosemont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Indiana County
    • Ernest
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Ernest is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
  • Lancaster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Churchtown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Beartown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Beartown is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
    • Terre Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lehigh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Hosensack
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Hosensack is located in Lehigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hosensack
    • Powder Valley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Powder Valley is located in Lehigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powder Valley
    • Hensingersville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Hensingersville is located in Lehigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hensingersville
    • Old Zionsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Old Zionsville is located in Lehigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Zionsville
    • Zionsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Alburtis
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Macungie
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Dillingerville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dillingerville is located in Lehigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillingerville
      • Dillingerville has also been known as:
      • Dillinger
      • Dillingers Ville
      • Dillingers
      • Dillingersville
      • Stahlers
    • Ancient Oaks
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Ancient Oaks is located in Lehigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ancient Oaks
    • Emmaus
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Limeport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Limeport is located in Lehigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limeport
    • Wescosville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Palm
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Fruitville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fruitville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitville
    • East Greenville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Pennsburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Congo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Congo is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congo
    • Pleasant Run
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Pleasant Run is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
    • Red Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Anise
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Anise is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anise
    • Hoppenville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Hoppenville is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoppenville
    • Gilbertsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Green Lane
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • New Hanover
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Northampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Leithsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Leithsville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leithsville
    • Seidersville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Seidersville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidersville
    • Star Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Star Village is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Village
    • Hellertown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • North Catasauqua
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • North Catasauqua is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Catasauqua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,825 people
    • Bethlehem
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Northampton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Freemansburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Hanover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Hanover is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
    • Wassergass
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Wassergass is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wassergass
    • Weaversville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Weaversville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaversville
    • Steel City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Steel City is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel City
  • Philadelphia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Chestnut Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Chestnut Hill is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Hill
    • Highland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Highland is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
    • Roxborough
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Roxborough is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxborough
  • Schuylkill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Andreas
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Mantz
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Mantz is located in Schuylkill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantz
    • Port Clinton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Rauschs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Rauschs is located in Schuylkill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rauschs
    • Rene Mont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Rene Mont is located in Schuylkill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rene Mont
    • Auburn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Deer Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 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
    • McKeansburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • McKeansburg is located in Schuylkill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKeansburg
    • New Ringgold
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hunterdon County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Hughesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hughesville is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughesville
    • Idell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Idell is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idell
    • Raven Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Raven Rock is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven Rock
    • Barbertown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Barbertown is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbertown
    • Mount Pleasant
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Baptistown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Baptistown is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baptistown
    • Everittstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Everittstown is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everittstown
    • Prallsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Prallsville is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prallsville
    • Rosemont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Rosemont is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemont
  • Warren County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Phillipsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Phillipsburg is located in Warren County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,238 people
    • Warren Glen
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Warren Glen is located in Warren County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Glen
    • Stewartsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Stewartsville is located in Warren County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clayton, see our County-by-County Page for Clayton.

Cemeteries Near Clayton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clayton.

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 Clayton - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clayton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.

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 Clayton had a population of 357 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.

  • Chapel
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Chapel is located in Berks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel
  • Harlem
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Harlem is located in Berks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlem
  • Niantic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Niantic is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niantic
  • Fruitville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Fruitville is located in Montgomery County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitville
  • Palm
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hereford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Dale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Dale is located in Berks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
  • Eshbach
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Eshbach is located in Berks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eshbach
  • Seisholtzville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Seisholtzville is located in Berks County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seisholtzville
  • East Greenville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Corning
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Corning is located in Lehigh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
  • Sigmund
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Sigmund is located in Lehigh County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigmund
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Huffs Church
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Huffs Church is located in Berks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffs Church
    • Bechtelsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Congo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Congo is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congo

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Clayton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clayton.

Newspapers Published in Clayton ...

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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clayton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clayton, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clayton.

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 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 Clayton:

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 Clayton, 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- Clayton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.