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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 Rockdale (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 Rockdale. 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.

Rockdale is located in Delaware 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 Delaware County: New Castle (DE), Gloucester (NJ), Chester, Montgomery & Philadelphia.

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

  • Delaware County     (The home county of Rockdale)
  • Allegheny County
    • Overbrook
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Overbrook is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overbrook
  • Berks County
  • Bucks County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Chestnut Wood Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • County Line
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • County Line is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
    • Warminster Heights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Warminster Heights is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warminster Heights
    • Warminster Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Warminster Village is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warminster Village
    • Johnsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Johnsville is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
    • Casey Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Casey Village is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey Village
    • Hartsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ivyland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Warrington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Fairhill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Chalfont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Churchville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Churchville is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
  • Chester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Green Lane Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Green Lane Village is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Lane Village
    • Whitehorse
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Coventry Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Coventry Village is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry Village
    • West Goshen
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • West Goshen is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Goshen
    • Birmingham
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Birmingham is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
    • Brookfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Seal
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Leopard
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Suburban Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Suburban Village is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suburban Village
    • Norway
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Berwyn
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Duffryn Mawr
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Duffryn Mawr is located in Chester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffryn Mawr
    • Fern Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Indiana County
    • Ernest
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lancaster County
  • Montgomery County
  • Philadelphia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Bartram Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Bartram Village is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bartram Village
    • University City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • University City is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University City
    • Southwest Center City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Southwest Center City is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest Center City
    • Manayunk
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Old City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Old City is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City
    • Philadelphia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Queen Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Queen Village is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen Village
    • Roxborough
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Upsal
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Allen Lane
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestnut Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Germantown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Highland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland is located in Philadelphia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
  • New Castle County (DE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Carpenter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • White Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • White Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Village
    • Whites Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Whites Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Village
    • Analine Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Analine Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Analine Village
    • Aniline Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Aniline Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aniline Village
    • Ardentown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Ardentown is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardentown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 274 people
    • Arden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Arden is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 436 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arden <1>
    • Claymont Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Claymont Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claymont Village
    • Claymont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Ardencroft
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ardencroft is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardencroft
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 218 people
    • Windy Bush
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Holly Oak
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Talleyville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Cecil County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Appleton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • West Creek Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • West Creek Village is located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Creek Village
    • Winding Brook Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Winding Brook Village is located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winding Brook Village
    • Bank ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bank was located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bank
    • Barksdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Barksdale is located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
    • Elk Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Iron Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Andora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherry Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Delancy Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Delancy Village is located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delancy Village
    • Fair Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Old Line Village of Fair Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Blake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Burlington County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Cinnaminson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Maple Shade
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Riverton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Greentree Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Greentree Village is located in Burlington County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greentree Village
    • Ramblewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Ramblewood is located in Burlington County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramblewood
    • Marlton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Marlton is located in Burlington County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlton
    • Riverside
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Heritage Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Heritage Village is located in Burlington County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Village
    • Beverly
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Camden County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Brooklawn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Gloucester City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Camden
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Morgan Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Morgan Village is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Village
    • Ablett Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Ablett Village is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ablett Village
    • Wood - Lynne
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Wood - Lynne is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood - Lynne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,907 people
    • Glendora
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Glendora is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
    • Blackwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Pennsauken
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Westmont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Cherry Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Delair
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Golden Triangle
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Golden Triangle is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Triangle
  • Cumberland County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
    • Beals Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • West Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • West Village is located in Cumberland County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Village
    • Seabrook Farms
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Seabrook Farms is located in Cumberland County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seabrook Farms
  • Gloucester County (NJ)
  • Salem County (NJ)

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

Cemeteries Near Rockdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rockdale.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale 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 Rockdale had a population of 610 people in 1895 with railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Mount Alverno
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Mount Alverno is also located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Alverno
  • Glen Riddle
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Lenni
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Lenni is also located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenni
  • Aston Mills
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Village Green
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Knowlton
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Knowlton is also located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowlton
  • Wawa
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Wawa is also located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wawa
  • Chester Heights
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Darling
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Darling is also located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darling
  • Chelsea
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Lima
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bridgewater
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgewater is also located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgewater
  • Continue List   (22 more) ...
    • Moylan
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Moylan is also located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moylan
    • Elwyn
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Boothwyn
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Rockdale ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rockdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rockdale, there are papers which were published within 5 miles [8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rockdale.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Rockdale:

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 Rockdale, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rockdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.