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 Mertztown (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 Mertztown. 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.
Name Variations for Mertztown ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Another variation: Mertz Town.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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 north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Mertztown 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 Mertztown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mertztown:
- Berks County (The home county of Mertztown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Hancock
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hancock is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Topton
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Monterey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Monterey is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Schofer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Schofer is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofer
- Red Lion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Red Lion is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Lion
- Rittenhouse Gap
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rittenhouse Gap is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rittenhouse Gap
- Sally Ann ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sally Ann is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sally Ann
- Hinterleiter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hinterleiter is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinterleiter
- Huffs Church
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Huffs Church is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffs Church
- Eagle Point
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Eagle Point is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Point
- Dryville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Dryville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryville
- Kutztown
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bucks County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Steinsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Steinsburg is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steinsburg
- Milford Square
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Milford Square is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford Square
- Zionhill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Zionhill is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zionhill
- Hilltop
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hilltop is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
- Shelly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Shelly is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelly
- Trumbauersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Passer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Passer is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Passer
- Quakertown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Argus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Argus is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argus
- Rich Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Rich Hill is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Hill
- Richlandtown
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Pullen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pullen is located in Bucks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullen
- Carbon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Germans
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Germans is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germans
- Ashfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ashfield is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashfield
- Kittatinny
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Kittatinny is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kittatinny
- Hazard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hazard is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
- Palmerton
(20 miles [32.2 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
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- New Mahoning
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- New Mahoning is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Mahoning
- Parryville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lehighton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mertz Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mertz Town is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mertz Town
- Weissport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Little Gap
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Little Gap is located in Carbon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Gap
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Pottstown Landing
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pottstown Landing is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown Landing
- South Pottstown
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- South Pottstown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pottstown
- Fricks Lock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Fricks Lock is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fricks Lock
- Kenilworth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Kenilworth is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenilworth
- Parker Ford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Parker Ford is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Ford
- Bucktown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bucktown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Slonaker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Slonaker is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slonaker
- Coventryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Coventryville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventryville
- Knauertown
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Knauertown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knauertown
- Pughtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pughtown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pughtown
- Seven Stars
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Seven Stars is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Spring City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Blainsport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blainsport is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsport
- Churchtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lebanon County
- Newmanstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lehigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Alburtis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hensingersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hensingersville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hensingersville
- Wallner ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Wallner is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallner
- Ancient Oaks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ancient Oaks is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ancient Oaks
- Macungie
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Seipstown
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Seipstown is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seipstown
- Hynemansville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hynemansville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynemansville
- Chapman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- New Smithville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Smithville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Smithville
- Weisenberg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Weisenberg is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weisenberg
- Old Zionsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Old Zionsville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Zionsville
- Powder Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Powder Valley is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powder Valley
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Kresgeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rossland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rossland is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossland
- Gilbert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Palm
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- East Greenville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fruitville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fruitville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitville
- Congo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Congo is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congo
- Pennsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Run is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Red Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gilbertsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Hoppenville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hoppenville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoppenville
- Anise
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Anise is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anise
- Halfway House
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Halfway House is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway House
- Green Lane
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Northampton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- North Catasauqua
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Catasauqua is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Catasauqua
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,825 people
- Northampton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- 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
- Lockport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lockport is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockport
- Howertown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Howertown is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howertown
- Howertown has also been known as:
- Hauertown
- Howardtown
- Howartown
- Howeton
- Weaversville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Weaversville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaversville
- Hellertown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Leithsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Leithsville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leithsville
- Bethlehem
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
- Kreidersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kreidersville is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kreidersville
- Schuylkill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Mantz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mantz is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantz
- Andreas
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Rene Mont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rene Mont is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rene Mont
- Port Clinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Rauschs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rauschs is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rauschs
- New Ringgold
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- McKeansburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- McKeansburg is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKeansburg
- Deer Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Deer Lake is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 645 people
- Auburn
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Jefferson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Jefferson is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Coaldale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Landingville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Landingville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landingville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Hughesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hughesville is located in Hunterdon County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughesville
- Warren County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Phillipsburg
(28 miles [45.1 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Warren Glen is located in Warren County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Glen
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mertztown, see our County-by-County Page for Mertztown.
Cemeteries Near Mertztown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mertztown.
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 Mertztown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mertztown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Longswamp Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- St. Pauls Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Topton Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topton Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Topton Union Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Topton.
- The Topton Union Cemetery has also been known as:
- Topton Cemetery
- Union Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1992380 <2>
- Lehigh Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lehigh Zion Cemetery
- The Lehigh Zion Cemetery has also been known as:
- Zion Lehigh Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1973095 <2>
- Zion Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Christ DeLong UCC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery of Bowers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery of Bowers
- The Union Cemetery of Bowers has also been known as:
- Bowers Cemetery
- Christ DeLong's Cemetery
- Huff Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Huff Union Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in the vicinity of Huffs Church
- The Huff Union Cemetery has also been known as:
- Huff Union Church Cemetery
- Huff's Evangelical Church Cemetery
- Huff's Union Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45157 <2>
- Rauch Hertzog Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Peters Union Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. John's UCC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. John's UCC Cemetery
- The St. John's UCC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Union Cemetery of Fogelsville
- Continue List (362 more) ...
- Grandview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Resurrection Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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 Mertztown had a population of 483 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mertztown, with the one closest to Mertztown listed first.
- Longswamp
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Longswamp is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longswamp
- Shamrock Station
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Shamrock Station is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock Station
- Hancock
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hancock is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Topton
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Maxatawny
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Maxatawny is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxatawny
- Breinigsville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fredericksville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fredericksville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksville
- Rittenhouse Gap
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rittenhouse Gap is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rittenhouse Gap
- Red Lion
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Red Lion is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Lion
- Alburtis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Spring Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Creek is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Schofer
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Schofer is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schofer
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Hinterleiter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hinterleiter is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinterleiter
- Huffs Church
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Huffs Church is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffs Church
- Seisholtzville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Seisholtzville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seisholtzville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mertztown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mertztown.
Newspapers Published in Mertztown ...
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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mertztown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mertztown, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mertztown.
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 Mertztown:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Berks County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bucks County
- Carbon County
- Chester County
- Lancaster County
- Lebanon County
- Lehigh County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Northampton County
- Schuylkill County
- Hunterdon County
- Warren 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 Mertztown, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Mertztown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |