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 Orrtanna (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 Orrtanna. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Orrtanna is located in Adams 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 Adams County: Carroll (MD), Frederick (MD), Cumberland, Franklin & York.
Below are the counties that are near Orrtanna. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Orrtanna:
- Adams County (The home county of Orrtanna)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Cashtown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cashtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
- Cashtown - McKnightstown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McKnightstown Station
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Stars
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Seven Stars is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Virginia Mills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Virginia Mills is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
- Mummasburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mummasburg is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mummasburg
- Fairfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Trust
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Trust is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Gettysburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Arendtsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Goldenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Goldenville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldenville
- Carroll Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Lees Cross Roads
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lees Cross Roads is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Cross Roads
- Shippensburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hunters Run
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hunters Run is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Run
- Huntsdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Huntsdale is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsdale
- Montsera
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Montsera is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montsera
- Big Spring
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Big Spring is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Barnitz
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Barnitz is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnitz
- Mount Holly Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Newville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Newburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Craighead
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Craighead is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craighead
- Bears Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bears Crossroads is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bears Crossroads
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Caledonia Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia Park is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia Park
- Mount Union
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Union is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Union
- Brownsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Monterey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Monterey is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Beartown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Beartown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
- Blue Ridge Summit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mont Alto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Fayetteville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pen Mar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pen Mar is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Rouzerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rouzerville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rouzerville
- Quincy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Altenwald
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Altenwald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altenwald
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Pennville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pennville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
- Hanover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Parkville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Parkville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- Uniontown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Uniontown is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Bandanna
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bandanna is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bandanna
- West Manheim
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- West Manheim is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Manheim
- Mount Top
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Top is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Top
- La Bott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- La Bott is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Bott
- Spring Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Spring Grove is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,179 people
- Valley Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Valley Junction is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Junction
- Roler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roler is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roler
- Davidsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Davidsburg is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidsburg
- Carroll County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Harney
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Harney is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harney
- Keysville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Keysville is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
- Crabster ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Crabster is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabster
- Taneytown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bruceville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bruceville is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville
- Fairground Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairground Village is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairground Village
- Keymar
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bark Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bark Hill is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bark Hill
- Tyrone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tyrone is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Union Bridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Uniontown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Uniontown is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Frizzellburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Frizzellburg is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frizzellburg
- Frizzellburg has also been known as:
- Frizels
- Frederick County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Emmitsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sabillasville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thurmont
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rocky Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jimtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Jimtown is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Catoctin Furnace
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Catoctin Furnace is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoctin Furnace
- Creagerstown
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Creagerstown is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creagerstown
- Ladiesburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Ladiesburg is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladiesburg
- New Midway
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- New Midway is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Midway
- Woodsboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Centerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Centerville is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Mountaindale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Mountaindale is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Washington County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Highfield - Cascade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Highfield - Cascade is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highfield - Cascade
- Pen Mar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pen Mar is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Pen Mar has also been known as:
- Pen Mar Park
- Hill Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hill Village is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Village
- Leitersburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Leitersburg is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
- Smithsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cavetown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cavetown is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
- Greenvale Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greenvale Village is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale Village
- Pondsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pondsville is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondsville
- Chewsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chewsville is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
- Bridgeport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bridgeport is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Fountainhead - Orchard Hills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Long Meadow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Long Meadow is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Meadow
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Orrtanna, see our County-by-County Page for Orrtanna.
Cemeteries Near Orrtanna ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orrtanna.
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 Orrtanna - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Orrtanna covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- Flohrs Lutheran Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Fairfield Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- McClelland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Blacks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Greenmount Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Strang Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fountaindale Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- Soldiers National Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Gettysburg National Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fountaindale Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
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 in 1895, Orrtanna had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Orrtanna, with the one closest to Orrtanna listed first.
- McKnightstown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cashtown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cashtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
- Virginia Mills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Virginia Mills is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
- Seven Stars
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Seven Stars is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Fairfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mummasburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mummasburg is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mummasburg
- Trust
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Trust is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Jacks Mountain
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jacks Mountain is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacks Mountain
- Gettysburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Goldenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Goldenville is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldenville
- Arendtsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Graefenburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Graefenburg is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graefenburg
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Greenmount
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenmount is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
- Sedgwick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sedgwick is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedgwick
- Round Top
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Round Top is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Top
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Orrtanna. See our List of 1890's Communities around Orrtanna.
Newspapers Published in Orrtanna ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orrtanna.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orrtanna, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orrtanna.
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 helpful 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 Orrtanna:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Adams County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cumberland County
- Franklin County
- York County
- Carroll County
- Frederick County
- Washington 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 Orrtanna, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Orrtanna) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |