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 Otto (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 Otto. 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 and 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.
Otto is located in Northumberland 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 Northumberland County: Columbia, Dauphin, Lycoming, Montour, Schuylkill, Snyder & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Otto. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Otto:
- Northumberland County (The home county of Otto)
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Herndon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mandata
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mandata is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandata
- Asherton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Asherton is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asherton
- Mile Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mile Run is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mile Run
- Selinsgrove Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Selinsgrove Junction is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selinsgrove Junction
- Augustaville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Augustaville is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augustaville
- Trevorton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leck Kill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Leck Kill is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leck Kill
- Farnsworth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Farnsworth is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnsworth
- Sunbury
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Malta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Malta is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
- Keefers
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Keefers is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keefers
- Bear Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bear Valley is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Allegheny County
- Bloomfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomfield is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,255 people
- Berks County
- Meckville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Meckville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meckville
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Locustdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Grovania
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grovania is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grovania
- Catawissa
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Numidia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Numidia is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numidia
- Queen City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Queen City is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Aristes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Aristes is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aristes
- Centralia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Newlin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Newlin is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlin
- Rupert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rupert is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rupert
- Slabtown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Slabtown is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slabtown
- Buckhorn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Buckhorn is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Bloomsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fernville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fernville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernville
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Westwood Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Westwood Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Village
- Enola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dauphin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Pillow
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Erdman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Erdman is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erdman
- Berrysburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gratz
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Loyalton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Loyalton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyalton
- Elizabethville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lykens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Paxton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paxton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paxton
- Rife
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Rife is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rife
- Dayton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Williamstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Millersburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Enders
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Enders is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enders
- Juniata County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Knousetown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Knousetown is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knousetown
- Richfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Seven Stars
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Stars is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Swales
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Swales is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swales
- Thompsontown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- McAlisterville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Locust Run
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Locust Run is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Run
- Lebanon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Gold Mine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gold Mine is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Mine
- Green Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Green Point is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Point
- Murray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Murray is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Fort Indiantown Gap
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Indiantown Gap is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Indiantown Gap
- Inwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Inwood is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inwood
- Lickdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lickdale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickdale
- Jonestown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bunker Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bunker Hill is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Fredericksburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Syner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Syner is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syner
- Palmyra
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Heilmandale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Heilmandale is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilmandale
- Annville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Luzerne County
- Newtown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Newtown is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Montour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Mooresburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mooresburg is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresburg
- Danville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Washingtonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Washingtonville is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washingtonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Exchange
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Exchange is located in Montour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exchange
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Liverpool
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pfoutz Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pfoutz Valley is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pfoutz Valley
- Reward
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Reward is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reward
- New Buffalo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Buffalo is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Buffalo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 126 people
- Bailey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Millerstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Newport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Duncannon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cove
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cove is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove
- Marysville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Perdix
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Perdix is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perdix
- Rose Glen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rose Glen is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Glen
- Blain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Schuylkill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Klingerstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rough and Ready
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rough and Ready is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough and Ready
- Pitman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Valley View
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Haas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Haas is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
- Tower City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hegins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Orwin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Orwin is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orwin
- Fountain
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Fountain is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain
- Keffers
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Keffers is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keffers
- Joliett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Joliett is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joliett
- Donaldson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Donaldson is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- East Franklin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- East Franklin is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Franklin
- Snyder County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Dundore
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Dundore is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundore
- Port Trevorton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Chapman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Chapman is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Selinsgrove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Freeburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Freeburg is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Hoffer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hoffer is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffer
- McKees Half Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- McKees Half Falls is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKees Half Falls
- Hummels Wharf
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pallas
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pallas is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pallas
- Shamokin Dam
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kreamer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Aline
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Aline is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aline
- Shadle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Shadle is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadle
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Dry Valley Crossroads
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Berlin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lewisburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Linntown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Linntown is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linntown
- Mifflinburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mazeppa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mazeppa is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mazeppa
- Red Bank
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Red Bank is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- West Milton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- West Milton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milton
- Millmont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Columbia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hartleton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hartleton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
- Glen Iron
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Glen Iron is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Iron
- Laurelton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Laurelton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Otto, see our County-by-County Page for Otto.
Cemeteries Near Otto ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otto.
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 Otto - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Otto covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Herndon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Gods Missionary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sharon Lutheran Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Gratz.
- The Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Gratz Union Cemetery
- Simeon Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2273655 <2>
- Lantz Emmanuel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Salem Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Lutheran Cemetery
- The Salem Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Row's Lutheran Cemetery
- Salem Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1989226 <2>
- Fairview Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Summit Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (176 more) ...
- Sunbury Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Orchard Hills Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- West Side Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
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, Otto had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Otto, with the one closest to Otto listed first.
- Kneass
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Kneass is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kneass
- Dornsife
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Dornsife is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dornsife
- Urban
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Urban is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urban
- Herndon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Port Trevorton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mandata
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mandata is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandata
- Patricksburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Patricksburg is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patricksburg
- Rebuck
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rebuck is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebuck
- Hunter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hunter is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter
- Dundore
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Dundore is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundore
- Asherton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Asherton is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asherton
- Dunkelbergers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dunkelbergers is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkelbergers
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Resler
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Resler is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Resler
- Fishers Ferry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fishers Ferry is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishers Ferry
- Chapman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Chapman is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Otto. See our List of 1890's Communities around Otto.
Newspapers Published in Otto ...
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 99 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otto.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Otto, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Otto.
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 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 Otto:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Northumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Berks County
- Columbia County
- Cumberland County
- Dauphin County
- Juniata County
- Lebanon County
- Luzerne County
- Montour County
- Perry County
- Schuylkill County
- Snyder County
- Union 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 Otto, 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- Otto) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |