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 Polktown (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 Polktown. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Polktown is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Frederick (MD), Washington (MD), Adams, Cumberland, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata & Perry.
Below are the counties that are near Polktown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Polktown:
- Franklin County (The home county of Polktown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Zullinger
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Zullinger is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zullinger
- Waynecastle
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Waynecastle is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waynecastle
- Waynesboro
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Shady Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Wingerton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wingerton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
- Nunnery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Nunnery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnery
- Wayne Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wayne Heights is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne Heights
- Quincy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clay Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clay Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Hill
- Rouzerville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rouzerville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rouzerville
- Greencastle
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Beartown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Beartown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beartown
- Altenwald
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Altenwald is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altenwald
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Jacks Mountain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Jacks Mountain is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacks Mountain
- Carroll Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Fairfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Virginia Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Virginia Mills is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
- Zora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Zora is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zora
- Orrtanna
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cashtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cashtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
- Trust
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Trust is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Cashtown - McKnightstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- McKnightstown Station
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Greenmount
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Greenmount is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenmount
- Seven Stars
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Seven Stars is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Arendtsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Shippensburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lees Cross Roads
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lees Cross Roads is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Cross Roads
- Newburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Big Spring
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Big Spring is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Huntsdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Huntsdale is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsdale
- Montsera
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Montsera is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montsera
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- McConnellsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Websters Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Websters Mill is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Websters Mill
- Knobsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Knobsville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobsville
- Burnt Cabins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Burnt Cabins is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Cabins
- Fort Littleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harrisonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harrisonville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisonville
- Pleasant Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- Covalt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Covalt is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covalt
- Needmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Clear Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clear Ridge is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Ridge
- Dott
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dott is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dott
- Sipes Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sipes Mill is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipes Mill
- Warfordsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Neelyton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Neelyton is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neelyton
- Maddensville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Maddensville is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddensville
- Carroll County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Keysville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Keysville is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keysville
- Harney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Harney is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harney
- Bruceville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bruceville is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruceville
- Keymar
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Crabster ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Crabster is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabster
- Taneytown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Fairground Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fairground Village is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairground Village
- Union Bridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bark Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bark Hill is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bark Hill
- Uniontown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Uniontown is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Linwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Linwood is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- McKinstrys Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- McKinstrys Mill is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinstrys Mill
- Tyrone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Tyrone is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Frederick County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Sabillasville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Thurmont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Walk
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Walk is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Walk
- Emmitsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Catoctin Furnace
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Catoctin Furnace is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoctin Furnace
- Jimtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jimtown is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Myersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Creagerstown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Creagerstown is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creagerstown
- Frostown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Frostown is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frostown
- Mountaindale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Rocky Ridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bolivar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bolivar is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Charlesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Charlesville is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
- Washington County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Hill Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hill Village is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Village
- Leitersburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Leitersburg is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
- Long Meadow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Long Meadow is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Meadow
- Paramount - Long Meadow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Paramount - Long Meadow is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paramount - Long Meadow
- Pen Mar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- 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
- Smithsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fountainhead - Orchard Hills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Maugansville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Highfield - Cascade
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Highfield - Cascade is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highfield - Cascade
- Bridgeport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bridgeport is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Cavetown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cavetown is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cavetown
- Chewsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Chewsville is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewsville
- Greenvale Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Greenvale Village is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenvale Village
- Berkeley County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Falling Waters
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Little Georgetown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Little Georgetown is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Georgetown
- Bedington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bedington is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedington
- Scrabble
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Scrabble is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
- Swan Pond
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Swan Pond is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Pond
- Hedgesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Baker Heights
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Baker Heights is located in Berkeley County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Heights
- Jefferson County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Shepherdstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bolivar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bolivar is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,018 people
- Harpers Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lower Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lower Town is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Town
- Bardane
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bardane is located in Jefferson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bardane
- Morgan County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Cherry Run
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Run is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
- Sleepy Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sleepy Creek is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleepy Creek
- Holton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Holton is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
- Hancock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hancock is located in Morgan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Polktown, see our County-by-County Page for Polktown.
Cemeteries Near Polktown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Polktown.
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 Polktown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Polktown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Green Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Antietam Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antietam Church Cemetery
- The Antietam Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Prices Church Cemetery
- Trinity Fellowship Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1753915 <2>
- Millers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- St. James Graveyard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ringgold Graveyard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- State Line Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- State Line UMC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Beautiful View Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Paradise Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Harbaugh Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- German Reformed Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Reformed Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the German Reformed Cemetery is located in Greencastle.
- The German Reformed Cemetery has also been known as:
- Reformed Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2261256 <2>
- Continue List (300 more) ...
- Longmeadow Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Welty Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stouffers Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Polktown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Polktown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Polktown, with the one closest to Polktown listed first.
- Zullinger
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Zullinger is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zullinger
- Wingerton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wingerton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingerton
- Waynesboro
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Shady Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shady Grove is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Grove
- Nunnery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Nunnery is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnery
- Five Forks
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Five Forks is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Leitersburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Leitersburg is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
- Ringgold
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ringgold is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
- Clay Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clay Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Hill
- Quincy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- State Line
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Midvale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Midvale is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Roadside
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Roadside is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roadside
- Knepper
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Knepper is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knepper
- Greencastle
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Polktown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Polktown.
Newspapers Published in Polktown ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Polktown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Polktown, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Polktown.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Polktown:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Cumberland County
- Fulton County
- Huntingdon County
- Carroll County
- Frederick County
- Washington County
- Berkeley County
- Jefferson County
- Morgan County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | 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 Polktown, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Polktown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |