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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 Ransom (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 Ransom. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Ransom is located in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County: Luzerne, Monroe, Susquehanna, Wayne & Wyoming.

Below are the counties that are near Ransom. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ransom:

  • Lackawanna County     (The home county of Ransom)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Milwaukee
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Milwaukee is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwaukee
    • Old Forge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Lawrenceville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Lawrenceville is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceville
    • Moosic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Moosic is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moosic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,813 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moosic <1>
    • Taylor
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Taylor is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,879 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylor <1>
    • Minooka
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Minooka is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minooka
    • Schultzville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Schultzville is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schultzville
    • Belian Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Belian Village is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belian Village
    • Scranton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Clarks Summit
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Dunmore
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Dunmore is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunmore
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,836 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dunmore <1>
    • Green Ridge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Green Ridge is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Ridge
    • Clarks Green
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarks Green is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Green
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,383 people
  • Bradford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Sugar Run
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Wilmot
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilmot is located in Bradford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
    • Wyalusing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Carbon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • East Side
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • East Side is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Side
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 301 people
    • Leslie Run
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Leslie Run is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie Run
    • Mud Run
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Mud Run is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mud Run
    • Albrightsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Unionville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Unionville is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
    • Meckesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Meckesville is located in Carbon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meckesville
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Jamison City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Jamison City is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison City
    • Foundryville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Foundryville is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foundryville
  • Luzerne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Orange
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Orange is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
    • Exeter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • West Pittston
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Duryea
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Carverton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Carverton is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carverton
    • Pittston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • West Wyoming
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • West Wyoming is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Wyoming
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,671 people
    • Wyoming
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Avoca
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Avoca is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,603 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <1>
    • Hughestown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hughestown is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,356 people
    • Port Blanchard
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Port Blanchard is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Blanchard
    • Dupont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Houston City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Houston City is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston City
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Locust Lakes Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Locust Lakes Village is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Lakes Village
    • Mount Pocono
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Tobyhanna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Pocono Pines
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Pocono Summit
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Long Pond
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Pike County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Ledgedale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Ledgedale is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledgedale
    • South Sterling
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • La Anna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • La Anna is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Anna
    • Panther
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Panther is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
  • Sullivan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Bernice
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Bernice is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernice
    • Shinerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Shinerville is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shinerville
  • Susquehanna County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Lenoxville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lenoxville is located in Susquehanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoxville
    • Hop Bottom
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Springville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Royal
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Royal is located in Susquehanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
    • Tyler
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Tyler is located in Susquehanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
    • Auburn Four Corners
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Auburn Four Corners is located in Susquehanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Four Corners
    • Elk Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Elk Lake is located in Susquehanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Lake
    • Kingsley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • South Gibson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Forest City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Alford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Alford is located in Susquehanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alford
    • South Montrose
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Union Dale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Hollisterville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Hollisterville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollisterville
    • Maplewood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Maplewood is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maplewood
    • South Canaan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • South Canaan is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Canaan
    • Sterling
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Tresslarville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Tresslarville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tresslarville
    • Waymart
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Forest City Station
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Forest City Station is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City Station
    • Keen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Keen is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keen
    • Lakeville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Prompton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Prompton is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prompton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 233 people
    • Uswick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Uswick is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uswick
    • Aldenville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Aldenville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldenville
    • Seelyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Seelyville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seelyville
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.
    • Vernon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Vernon is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
    • Lake Winola
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Osterhout
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Osterhout is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osterhout
    • South Eaton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • South Eaton is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Eaton
    • Mill City ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Mill City is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill City
    • Jenks
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jenks is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenks
    • Beaumont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Beaumont is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
    • Dixon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Dixon is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
    • Factoryville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Evans Falls
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Evans Falls is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans Falls
    • Tunkhannock
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Noxen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Marcy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Marcy is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcy

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ransom, see our County-by-County Page for Ransom.

Cemeteries Near Ransom ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ransom.

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 Ransom - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ransom covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.

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 Ransom had a population of 138 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Ransom, with the one closest to Ransom listed first.

  • Harding
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Harding is located in Luzerne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harding
  • Milwaukee
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Milwaukee is located in Lackawanna County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwaukee
  • Lockville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lockville is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockville
  • Orange
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Orange is located in Luzerne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
  • Carverton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Carverton is located in Luzerne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carverton
  • Falls
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Falls is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls
  • Exeter
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • West Pittston
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Old Forge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Ketcham
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ketcham is located in Luzerne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketcham
  • Wyoming
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Port Griffith
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Port Griffith is located in Luzerne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Griffith
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Pittston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Avoca
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Avoca is located in Luzerne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,603 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Avoca <1>
    • Moosic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Moosic is located in Lackawanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moosic
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,813 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moosic <1>

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ransom. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ransom.

Newspapers Published in Ransom ...

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 119 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ransom.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ransom, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ransom.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Ransom:

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 Ransom, 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 from Point A (ie- Ransom) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.