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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 Swarthmore (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 Swarthmore. 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 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.

Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Swarthmore:

  • Delaware County     (The home county of Swarthmore)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swarthmore, with the one closest to Swarthmore listed first.
    • Wallingford
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Rutledge
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Morton
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Woodlyn
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Folsom
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Rose Valley
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Rose Valley is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 952 people
    • Norwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Norwood is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,956 people
    • Media
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Baldwin
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Baldwin is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
    • Eddystone
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Prospect Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Garden City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Garden City is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Parkside
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Parkside is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkside
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,327 people
  • Allegheny County
    • Overbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Overbrook is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overbrook
  • Bucks County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swarthmore, with the one closest to Swarthmore listed first.
    • Chestnut Wood Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • County Line
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • County Line is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for County Line
    • Johnsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Johnsville is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
    • Warminster Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Warminster Heights is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warminster Heights
    • Warminster Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Warminster Village is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warminster Village
    • Casey Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Casey Village is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casey Village
    • Ivyland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Churchville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Churchville is located in Bucks County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Churchville
    • Croydon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Warrington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Chalfont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Castle Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Chester County
  • Indiana County
  • Montgomery County
  • Philadelphia County
  • New Castle County (DE)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swarthmore, with the one closest to Swarthmore listed first.
    • Analine Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Analine Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Analine Village
    • Aniline Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Aniline Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aniline Village
    • White Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • White Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Village
    • Whites Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Whites Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Village
    • Carpenter
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Arden
      (9 miles [14.5 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>
    • Ardencroft
      (9 miles [14.5 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
    • Ardentown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ardentown is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardentown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 274 people
    • Claymont Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Claymont Village is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claymont Village
    • Claymont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Holly Oak
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Windy Bush
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bellefonte
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bellefonte is located in New Castle County (DE)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefonte
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,166 people
  • Cecil County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swarthmore, with the one closest to Swarthmore listed first.
    • Appleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Barksdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Barksdale is located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
    • Iron Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • West Creek Village
      (29 miles [46.7 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
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Winding Brook Village is located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winding Brook Village
    • Andora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Bank ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bank is located in Cecil County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bank
    • Elk Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Fair Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Burlington County (NJ)
  • Camden County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swarthmore, with the one closest to Swarthmore listed first.
    • Brooklawn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Camden
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Gloucester City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Morgan Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Morgan Village is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Village
    • Ablett Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Ablett Village is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ablett Village
    • Wood - Lynne
      (13 miles [20.9 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
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Glendora is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
    • Pennsauken
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Delair
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Golden Triangle
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Golden Triangle is located in Camden County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Triangle
    • Westmont
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Blackwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cherry Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Cumberland County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swarthmore, with the one closest to Swarthmore listed first.
    • Beals Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Seabrook Farms
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Seabrook Farms is located in Cumberland County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seabrook Farms
    • West Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • West Village is located in Cumberland County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Village
    • Pleasantville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Pleasantville is located in Cumberland County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
  • Gloucester County (NJ)
  • Salem County (NJ)

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

Cemeteries Near Swarthmore ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Swarthmore.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Swarthmore, with the one closest to Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore had a population of 218 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Swarthmore had a population of 6,372 people.

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

  • Wallingford
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Folsom
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Rutledge
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Morton
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Eddystone
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Fairview
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Fairview is located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
  • Crum Lynne
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Ridley Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Moore
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Moore is located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore
  • Norwood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Norwood is located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,956 people
  • Holmes
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Llanwellyn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Llanwellyn is located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Llanwellyn
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Swarthmore ...

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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Swarthmore.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Swarthmore. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Swarthmore and those printed in the larger area surrounding Swarthmore.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4> of Swarthmore.

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 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 Swarthmore:

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