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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 Richland (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 Richland. 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 doctors and 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.

Richland is located in Lebanon County.

To see how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lebanon County: Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster & Schuylkill.

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

  • Lebanon County     (The home county of Richland)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Sheridan
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sheridan. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
      • Sheridan is located in Lebanon County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sheridan
      • From Richland to Sheridan
    • Newmanstown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newmanstown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmanstown
      • Newmanstown is located in Lebanon County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newmanstown <3>
    • Myerstown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Stricklerstown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Schaefferstown
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Prescott
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Johnstown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Johnstown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
      • Johnstown is located in Lebanon County
    • Avon Heights
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avon Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon Heights
      • Avon Heights is located in Lebanon County
    • Greble
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Zion
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mount Zion. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
      • Mount Zion is located in Lebanon County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mount Zion
      • From Richland to Mount Zion
    • Avon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Avon is located in Lebanon County
    • Lebanon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Berks County
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Cambridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cambridge. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
      • Cambridge is located in Chester County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cambridge
      • From Richland to Cambridge
    • Honey Brook
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Honey Brook have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Brook
      • Honey Brook is located in Chester County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,756 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Honey Brook <3>
    • Dampman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Elverson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Suplee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Isabella
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Isabella. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isabella
      • Isabella is located in Chester County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Isabella
      • From Richland to Isabella
    • Birdell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Birdell. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdell
      • Birdell is located in Chester County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Birdell
      • From Richland to Birdell
    • Compass
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cupola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cupola. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cupola
      • Cupola is located in Chester County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cupola
      • From Richland to Cupola
    • Loag
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rockville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Rockville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
      • Rockville is located in Chester County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Rockville
      • From Richland to Rockville
    • Knauertown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Knauertown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knauertown
      • Knauertown is located in Chester County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Knauertown
      • From Richland to Knauertown
  • Columbia County
    • Locustdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Locustdale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locustdale
      • Locustdale is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Locustdale <3>
  • Dauphin County
  • Lancaster County
  • Luzerne County
    • Newtown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Newtown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
      • Newtown is located in Luzerne County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Newtown
      • From Richland to Newtown
  • Montgomery County
    • Bramcote
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bramcote. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bramcote
      • Bramcote is located in Montgomery County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bramcote
      • From Richland to Bramcote
  • Northumberland County
  • Schuylkill County
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • East Prospect
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Prospect have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Prospect
      • East Prospect is located in York County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 912 people
    • Wrightsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Goldsboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Goldsboro. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldsboro
      • Goldsboro is located in York County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 938 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Goldsboro
      • From Richland to Goldsboro
    • York Haven
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for York Haven have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York Haven
      • York Haven is located in York County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 691 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for York Haven <3>
    • Hallam
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hallam have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallam
      • Hallam is located in York County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,634 people

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

Cemeteries Near Richland ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Richland.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Reeds Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Horst Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • United Evangelical Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the United Evangelical Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the United Evangelical Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Womelsdorf Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Womelsdorf Union Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Womelsdorf Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Hope Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Hope Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lapps Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lapps Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lapps Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Johns UCC Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns UCC Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns UCC Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Conrad Weiser Gravesite
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Conrad Weiser Gravesite
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Conrad Weiser Gravesite have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Host Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Heidelberg Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Heidelberg Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Heidelberg Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (269 more) ...

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.<5>

While we didn't find Richland in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Richland.

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

  • Millbach
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millbach have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbach
    • Millbach is located in Lebanon County
  • Sheridan
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sheridan. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
    • Sheridan is located in Lebanon County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Sheridan
    • From Richland to Sheridan
  • Newmanstown
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newmanstown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmanstown
    • Newmanstown is located in Lebanon County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newmanstown <3>
  • Stouchsburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stouchsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouchsburg
    • Stouchsburg is located in Berks County
  • Myerstown
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Reistville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reistville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reistville
    • Reistville is located in Lebanon County
  • Kleinfeltersville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kleinfeltersville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kleinfeltersville
    • Kleinfeltersville is located in Lebanon County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kleinfeltersville <3>
  • Womelsdorf
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Schaefferstown
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Mount Aetna
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Womelsdorf Station
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Womelsdorf Station have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womelsdorf Station
    • Womelsdorf Station is located in Berks County
  • Host
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Host have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Host
    • Host is located in Berks County
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Richland ...

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 Richland.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Richland, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Richland.

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 Richland:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Richland. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Lebanon County: www.lebcounty.org/

The official website for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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 Richland, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Richland) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Richland. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.3575, Longitude: -76.2573    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025