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 Emerson (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 Emerson. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Emerson is located in Bedford 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 Bedford County: Allegany (MD), Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon & Somerset.
Below are the counties that are near Emerson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Emerson:
- Bedford County (The home county of Emerson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Everett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Robinsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Robinsonville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinsonville
- Breezewood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Dallas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Dallas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Dallas
- Ott Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ott Town is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ott Town
- Purcell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Purcell is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purcell
- Bedford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Penn Wood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Penn Wood is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn Wood
- Charlesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Charlesville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
- Rainsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Rainsburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Graceville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Graceville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceville
- Cliffs ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cliffs is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffs
- Hopewell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Blair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Cotton Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Cotton Town is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
- Claysburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Clover Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Clover Creek is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
- Martinsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Sharpsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- East Sharpsburg is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharpsburg
- Roaring Spring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Cove Gap
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Cove Gap is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Gap
- Cowans Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cowans Village is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowans Village
- Fort Loudon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Dickey
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Dickey is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickey
- Mercersburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Markes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Markes is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markes
- Metal
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Metal is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metal
- Claylick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Claylick is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claylick
- Freestone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Freestone is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freestone
- Rockdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rockdale is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale
- Welsh Run
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Welsh Run is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welsh Run
- Saint Thomas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Williamson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Williamson is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamson
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Emmaville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Emmaville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmaville
- Crystal Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Spring is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Spring
- Akersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Akersville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akersville
- Sipes Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sipes Mill is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipes Mill
- Valley-Hi
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Valley-Hi is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley-Hi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Dott
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dott is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dott
- Needmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- Covalt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Covalt is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covalt
- Warfordsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wells Tannery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wells Tannery is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Tannery
- Harrisonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Harrisonville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisonville
- Laidig
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Laidig is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laidig
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Coalmont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Coalmont is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Dudley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Dudley is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
- Broad Top City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Broad Top City is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broad Top City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
- Robertsdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Robertsdale is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertsdale
- Middletown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Middletown is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Cooks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cooks is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks
- Joller ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Joller is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joller
- Maddensville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Maddensville is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddensville
- Selea
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Selea is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selea
- Kimmel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kimmel is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmel
- Rocky Ridge ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Ridge is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Ridge
- Coles ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Coles is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Saltillo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Saltillo is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- New Baltimore
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- New Baltimore is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Baltimore
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Fairhope
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Johnsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Central City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ogletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ogletown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogletown
- Downey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Downey is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
- Indian Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Indian Lake is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 375 people
- Wellersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wellersburg is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
- Buckstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Buckstown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckstown
- Allegany County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Flintstone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Little Orleans
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Green Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Green Ridge is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Ridge
- Rush
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rush is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush
- Town Creek ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Town Creek is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
- Keifers
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Keifers is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keifers
- Ellerslie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ellerslie is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerslie
- Corriganville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Corriganville is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corriganville
- Mount Savage Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Savage Junction is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Savage Junction
- Cumberland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oldtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shanty Town ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shanty Town is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanty Town
- Barrelville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Barrelville is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrelville
- Washington County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Hancock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pearre
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Pearre is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearre
- Big Pool
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Clear Spring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Berkeley County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Hedgesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Little Georgetown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Little Georgetown is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Georgetown
- Hampshire County (WV)
- Okonoko
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Okonoko is located in Hampshire County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okonoko
- Mineral County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Carpendale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
- Ridgeley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Morgan County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Hancock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hancock is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Woodmont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Woodmont is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont
- Bath
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bath is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
- Population from the 2020 Census: 587 people
- Berkeley Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Orleans Cross Roads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Orleans Cross Roads is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans Cross Roads
- Berryville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Berryville is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Doe Gully
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Doe Gully is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doe Gully
- Sleepy Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sleepy Creek is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleepy Creek
- Hansrote
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hansrote is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hansrote
- Magnolia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Magnolia is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Cherry Run
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cherry Run is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
- Holton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Holton is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
- Paw Paw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Emerson, see our County-by-County Page for Emerson.
Cemeteries Near Emerson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Emerson.
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 Emerson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Emerson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Indian Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Everett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- McKees Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hershberger Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ritchey Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hill Chapel Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hendershot Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bethel Community Church Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wink Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bedford Memorial Gardens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Prosperity Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Pauls Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Pauls Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the west of Hancock (MD).
- The St. Pauls Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #81574 <3>
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Pauls Cemetery
- The St. Pauls Cemetery has also been known as:
- Yellow Creek Reformed Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46229 <3>
- Hetrick Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mt. Olivet Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 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.<4>
While we didn't find Emerson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Emerson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Emerson, with the one closest to Emerson listed first.
- Mattie
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mattie is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Clearville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Everett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Emmaville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Emmaville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmaville
- Mench
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mench is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mench
- Crystal Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Spring is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Spring
- Gapsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gapsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gapsville
- Jackson Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Mills is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Mills
- Robinsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Robinsonville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinsonville
- Mount Dallas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Dallas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Dallas
- Ashcom
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ashcom is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcom
- Ott Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ott Town is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ott Town
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Purcell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Purcell is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purcell
- Akersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Akersville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akersville
- Lutzville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lutzville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lutzville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Emerson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Emerson.
Newspapers Published in Emerson ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Emerson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Emerson, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Emerson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Emerson:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Bedford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blair County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Huntingdon County
- Somerset County
- Allegany County
- Washington County
- Berkeley County
- Hampshire County
- Mineral County
- Morgan 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> | 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- Emerson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Emerson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |