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 Willow Hill (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 Willow Hill. 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 northeast 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 north.
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 north 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.
Willow Hill is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Frederick (MD), Washington (MD), Adams, Cumberland, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata & Perry.
Below are the counties that are near Willow Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willow Hill:
- Franklin County (The home county of Willow Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Dry Run
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dry Run is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
- Newbridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newbridge is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbridge
- Roxbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Roxbury is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Freestone
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Freestone is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freestone
- Doylestown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Doylestown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doylestown
- Keefers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Keefers is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keefers
- Pleasant Hall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hall is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hall
- Metal
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Metal is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metal
- Cowans Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cowans Village is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowans Village
- Mowersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mowersville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mowersville
- Orrstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Concord
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Concord is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Cheesetown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cheesetown is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheesetown
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Trust
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Trust is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trust
- Cashtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cashtown is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cashtown
- Arendtsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cashtown - McKnightstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bendersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Orrtanna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- McKnightstown Station
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mummasburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mummasburg is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mummasburg
- Virginia Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Virginia Mills is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Mills
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Coaldale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Coaldale is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaldale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Saxton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hopewell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Breezewood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Graceville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Graceville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceville
- Langdondale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Langdondale is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdondale
- Riddlesburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Riddlesburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddlesburg
- Marble City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Marble City is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble City
- Yellow Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Yellow Creek is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Woodbury
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Blair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Beavertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beavertown is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beavertown
- Clover Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clover Creek is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
- Shellytown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shellytown is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shellytown
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Newburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Shippensburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Washington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Washington is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
- Lees Cross Roads
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lees Cross Roads is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Cross Roads
- Big Spring
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Big Spring is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Newville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bears Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bears Crossroads is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bears Crossroads
- Huntsdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Huntsdale is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsdale
- Montsera
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Montsera is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montsera
- Plainfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Barnitz
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Barnitz is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnitz
- Caprivi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Caprivi is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caprivi
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Burnt Cabins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Burnt Cabins is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Cabins
- Fort Littleton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Clear Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clear Ridge is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Ridge
- Knobsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Knobsville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobsville
- Waterfall
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Harrisonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Harrisonville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisonville
- McConnellsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Laidig
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Laidig is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laidig
- Wells Tannery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wells Tannery is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Tannery
- Pleasant Ridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Ridge is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge
- Websters Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Websters Mill is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Websters Mill
- Valley-Hi
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Valley-Hi is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley-Hi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Akersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Akersville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akersville
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Neelyton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Neelyton is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neelyton
- Shade Gap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Maddensville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Maddensville is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maddensville
- Orbisonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pogue
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pogue is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pogue
- Rockhill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rockhill is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
- Rockhill has also been known as:
- Rockhill Furnace
- Three Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Selea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Selea is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selea
- Blairs Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Blairs Mills is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairs Mills
- Shirleysburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Saltillo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Saltillo is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltillo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Kimmel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kimmel is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmel
- Aughwick
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Aughwick is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aughwick
- Juniata County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Waterloo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Waterloo is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Perulack
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Perulack is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perulack
- Peru Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Peru Mills is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru Mills
- East Rutherford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Rutherford is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rutherford
- Reeds Gap
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Reeds Gap is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeds Gap
- McCullochs Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- McCullochs Mills is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCullochs Mills
- Doyles Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Doyles Mills is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doyles Mills
- Mifflin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Kistler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Kistler is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kistler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Newton Hamilton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Newton Hamilton is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Atkinson Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Atkinson Mills is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson Mills
- Mattawana
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mattawana is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattawana
- McVeytown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Allensville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Anderson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Anderson is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- New Germantown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Cisna Run
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cisna Run is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisna Run
- Centre
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Centre is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre
- Kistler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kistler is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kistler
- Bixler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bixler is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bixler
- Landisburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Washington County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Maugansville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fountainhead - Orchard Hills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hill Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hill Village is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Village
- Leitersburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Leitersburg is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leitersburg
- Long Meadow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Long Meadow is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Meadow
- Paramount - Long Meadow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Paramount - Long Meadow is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paramount - Long Meadow
- Pen Mar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pen Mar is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pen Mar
- Pen Mar has also been known as:
- Pen Mar Park
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Willow Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Willow Hill.
Cemeteries Near Willow Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willow Hill.
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 Willow Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Willow Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Pine Grove Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Path Valley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fleming Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lower Path Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Horse Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cree Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Blair Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fair Ridge Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Possumtown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shade Gap Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Salem Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (225 more) ...
- McMullen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Locke Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jones / Chapman / Parson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Willow Hill had a population of 115 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Willow Hill, with the one closest to Willow Hill listed first.
- Spring Run
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Fannettsburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Decorum
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Decorum is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decorum
- Neelyton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Neelyton is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neelyton
- Newbridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newbridge is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newbridge
- Dry Run
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dry Run is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
- Upper Strasburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Strasburg is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Strasburg
- Mentzer
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mentzer is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mentzer
- Burnt Cabins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Burnt Cabins is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Cabins
- Freestone
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Freestone is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freestone
- Roxbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Roxbury is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Shade Gap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Keefers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Keefers is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keefers
- Metal
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Metal is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metal
- Pleasant Hall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hall is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hall
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Willow Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Willow Hill.
Newspapers Published in Willow Hill ...
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 102 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willow Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willow Hill, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willow Hill.
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 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 Willow Hill:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Bedford County
- Blair County
- Cumberland County
- Fulton County
- Huntingdon County
- Juniata County
- Mifflin County
- Perry County
- Washington 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> | 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 Willow Hill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Willow Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |