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 Jonestown (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 Jonestown. 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 doctors 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.
Jonestown is located in Lebanon 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 Lebanon County: Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster & Schuylkill.
Below are the counties that are near Jonestown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Jonestown:
- Lebanon County (The home county of Jonestown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Bunker Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bunker Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Fredericksburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lickdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lickdale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickdale
- Heilmandale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Heilmandale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilmandale
- Inwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Inwood is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Westmont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Westmont is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmont
- Sand Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sand Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Mount Zion
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mount Zion is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Cleona
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cornwall Junction
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cornwall Junction is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwall Junction
- Pleasant Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Fort Indiantown Gap
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fort Indiantown Gap is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Indiantown Gap
- Berks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Meckville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Meckville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meckville
- Mount Aetna
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bethel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wintersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wintersville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wintersville
- Rehrersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rehrersburg is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehrersburg
- Schubert
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Schubert is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schubert
- Womelsdorf
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- New Schaefferstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- New Schaefferstown is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Schaefferstown
- Strausstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- North Heidelberg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- North Heidelberg is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Heidelberg
- Robesonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bernville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Locustdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Centralia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Aristes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Aristes is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aristes
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Lemoyne
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- New Cumberland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Allen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Allen is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Allen
- West Fairview
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Fairview is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairview
- Wormleysburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Enola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Westwood Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Westwood Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Village
- Camp Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lisburn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lisburn is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisburn
- Shiremanstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shiremanstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiremanstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,641 people
- Sporting Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sporting Hill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sporting Hill
- Good Hope
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Good Hope is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Dauphin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Grantville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Shellsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Shellsville is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shellsville
- Hershey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Williamstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bachmanville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bachmanville is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bachmanville
- Union Deposit
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Union Deposit is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Deposit
- Manadahill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Manadahill is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manadahill
- Dayton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Skyline View
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Skyline View is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline View
- Lykens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Carsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Carsonville is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsonville
- Hummelstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Mount Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mount Hope is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Elstonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Elstonville is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elstonville
- Mastersonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mastersonville is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mastersonville
- Brickerville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Grove is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Grove
- Cocalico
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cocalico is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cocalico
- Elm
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elm is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm
- Hopeland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeland is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeland
- Manheim
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Milton Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Milton Grove is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton Grove
- Naumanstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Naumanstown is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naumanstown
- Clay
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clay is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay
- Luzerne County
- Newtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Newtown is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Northumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Leck Kill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Leck Kill is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leck Kill
- Gowen City
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gowen City is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowen City
- Locust Gap
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Locust Gap is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Gap
- Alaska
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Alaska is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alaska
- Bear Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bear Valley is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Dooleyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dooleyville is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooleyville
- Marshallton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Marshallton is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshallton
- Mandata
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mandata is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandata
- Edgewood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Edgewood is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Shamokin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Malta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Malta is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- Herndon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Marysville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- New Buffalo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- New Buffalo is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Buffalo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Perdix
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Perdix is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perdix
- Cove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cove is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove
- Duncannon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Liverpool
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Schuylkill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Suedberg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Suedberg is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suedberg
- Irving
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Irving is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Beuchler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Beuchler is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beuchler
- Marstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Marstown is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marstown
- Pine Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ravine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Ravine is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravine
- Paradise
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Paradise is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Lorberry Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lorberry Junction is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorberry Junction
- Orwin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Orwin is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orwin
- Tower City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Echo Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Echo Valley is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo Valley
- Joliett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Joliett is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joliett
- Snyder County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Chapman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Chapman is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- McKees Half Falls
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- McKees Half Falls is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKees Half Falls
- Port Trevorton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dundore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dundore is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundore
- Hoffer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hoffer is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffer
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Goldsboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Goldsboro is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 938 people
- Marsh Run
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Marsh Run is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Run
- New Market
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- New Market is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market
- Redland Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Redland Village is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redland Village
- Valley Green
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Green is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Green
- York Haven
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Quaker Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Quaker Village is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quaker Village
- Rudytown ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rudytown is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudytown
- Strinestown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Strinestown is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strinestown
- Lewisberry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Manchester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Wolf
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Jonestown, see our County-by-County Page for Jonestown.
Cemeteries Near Jonestown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jonestown.
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 Jonestown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Jonestown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Wenger Meetinghouse Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Union-Salem Evangelical Congregational Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bethel Moravian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- South Bellegrove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bellegrove Cemetery
- The South Bellegrove Cemetery has also been known as:
- Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Cross Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Lebanon.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45105 <2>
- Indiantown Gap National Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown Gap National Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Fort Indiantown Gap.
- The Indiantown Gap National Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45182 <2>
- Mt. Annville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Fairland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kimmerlings Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmerlings Cemetery
- The Kimmerlings Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Jacob's Kimmerlings Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #292170 <2>
- Meyer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hamlin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (262 more) ...
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hebron Moravian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sattazahn Lutheran Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 Jonestown had a population of 643 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Jonestown had a population of 2,031 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
- Bunker Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bunker Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Ono
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Heilmandale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Heilmandale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilmandale
- Fredericksburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lickdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lickdale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickdale
- Westmont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Westmont is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmont
- Inwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Inwood is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Bellegrove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bellegrove is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellegrove
- Cleona
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Coheva
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Coheva is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coheva
- West Lebanon
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- West Lebanon is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Cornwall Junction
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cornwall Junction is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwall Junction
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Mount Zion
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mount Zion is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Hamlin
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlin is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
- East Hanover
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- East Hanover is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hanover
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Jonestown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Jonestown.
Newspapers Published in Jonestown ...
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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jonestown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Jonestown, 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 Jonestown.
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 Jonestown:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Lebanon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berks County
- Columbia County
- Cumberland County
- Dauphin County
- Lancaster County
- Luzerne County
- Northumberland County
- Perry County
- Schuylkill County
- Snyder County
- York 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 Jonestown, 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 from Point A (ie- Jonestown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |