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 doctors 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Armstrong, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest & Indiana.
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:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Rockdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Red Mill
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Red Mill is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mill
- Allens Mills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Allens Mills is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
- Pancoast
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
- Falls Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sandy Valley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Valley
- Brockway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Crenshaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Warsaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Warsaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
- Prescottville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Reynoldsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hazen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hazen is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazen
- Sykesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- McWilliams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- McWilliams is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Millville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Millville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Eddyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eddyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
- South Bethlehem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- South Bethlehem is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bethlehem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
- Dayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Putneyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Putneyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putneyville
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Cooksburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Day
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Day is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day
- Crates
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Crates is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crates
- Waterson
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Waterson is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterson
- Hawthorn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Frogtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Frogtown is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogtown
- Helen Furnace
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Helen Furnace is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helen Furnace
- Mechanicsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mechanicsville is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Strattanville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Crown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Crown is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown
- Fairmont City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Brinkerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Brinkerton is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkerton
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- DuBois
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Treasure Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Treasure Lake is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treasure Lake
- Sandy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sandy is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Stanley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Stanley is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Helvetia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Helvetia is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helvetia
- Troutville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Troutville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troutville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Luthersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rockton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rockton is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Winterburn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
- Laborde
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Laborde is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laborde
- Tyler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Tyler is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
- Grampian
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Brockport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Shawmut
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shawmut is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Horton City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Horton City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton City
- Challenge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Challenge is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
- Lake City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Kylers Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
- Hallton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hallton is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallton
- Scattertown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Scattertown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
- Ridgway
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Dagus Mines
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Millstone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Millstone is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
- Byrnedale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Clarington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Redclyffe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Redclyffe is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redclyffe
- Marienville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Marienville is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marienville
- Gilfoyle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gilfoyle is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilfoyle
- Roses
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Roses is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roses
- Iron City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Iron City is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Sheffield Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sheffield Junction is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield Junction
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Johnsonburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Johnsonburg is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Rossiter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Urey
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Urey is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urey
- Marchand
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Marchand is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marchand
- Trade City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Trade City is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade City
- Glen Campbell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hooverhurst
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hooverhurst is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverhurst
- Rochester Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rochester Mills is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester Mills
- Savan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Savan is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savan
- Mottarns Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mottarns Mill is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottarns Mill
- Georgeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Georgeville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
- Smicksburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
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.
- Beechwoods Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Marys Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Marys Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Reynoldsville.
- The St. Marys Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1111986 <2>
- Rumbarger Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Catherines Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wildwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Reynoldsville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Beulah Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prospect Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (123 more) ...
- St. Tobias Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moore Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lakelawn Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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 Rockdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rockdale.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rockdale, with the one closest to Rockdale listed first.
- Coal Glen
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Coal Glen is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Glen
- Harveys Run
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Harveys Run is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveys Run
- Beechtree
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beechtree is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechtree
- Sandy Valley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Valley
- Pancoast
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
- Falls Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- McMinns Summit
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- McMinns Summit is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMinns Summit
- Allens Mills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Allens Mills is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
- Sugar Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Hill is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Hill
- Lanes Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lanes Mills is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanes Mills
- Rathmel
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rathmel is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathmel
- DuBois
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Reynoldsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Prescottville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Crenshaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
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 43 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 12 miles [19.3 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 visit 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 Rockdale:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Clarion County
- Clearfield County
- Elk County
- Forest County
- Indiana County
- Lawrence 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 Rockdale, 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- Rockdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |