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 Arnold (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 Arnold. 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 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.
Arnold is located in Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County: Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana & Somerset.
Below are the counties that are near Arnold. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Arnold:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of Arnold)
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- New Kensington
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Parnassus
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Lower Burrell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Weinel Crossroads
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
- Bagdad
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
- West Leechburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Leechburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leechburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- East Vandergrift
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- East Vandergrift is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vandergrift
- Population from the 2020 Census: 631 people
- Hyde Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Washington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Oklahoma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Oklahoma is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oklahoma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 739 people
- Vandergrift
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Franklin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- Tarentum
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brackenridge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Springdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Harwick
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Harwick is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
- Natrona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Natrona is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Cheswick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rural Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Karns
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Karns is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
- Russellton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leechburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Leechburg is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leechburg
- New Texas
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- New Texas is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Texas
- Indianola
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- Freeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Aladdin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- Leechburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Apollo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- North Apollo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Orchard Hills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- McVille
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- McVille is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
- Neale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- Edmon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Spring Church
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Slate Lick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Slate Lick is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Lick
- Rosston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rosston is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- Beaver County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- Economy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Economy is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,022 people
- Knob
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Knob is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Wallace City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Wallace City is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace City
- Ambridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Baden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Heights is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 437 people
- Conway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Aliquippa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Crestmont Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Crestmont Village is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestmont Village
- Freedom
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gringo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gringo is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gringo
- East Rochester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- East Rochester is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rochester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- Ekastown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ekastown is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
- Monroe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Frazier Mill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
- Leasureville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Saxonburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Glade Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Glade Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Mills
- Valencia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dennys Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
- Great Belt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Great Belt is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Belt
- Mars
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nixon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nixon is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
- Brownsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsdale is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsdale
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- East Brady
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Phillipston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Phillipston is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- Catfish
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Catfish is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- White
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Clarksburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Saltsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- West Lebanon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Bow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Parkwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Parkwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Jacksonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Shelocta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Aultman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Aultman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
- Blairsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Shado-Wood Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Shado-Wood Village is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shado-Wood Village
- Smathers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Smathers is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smathers
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- Ellsworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ellsworth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Finleyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonville
- McMurray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Thompsonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Thompsonville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Black Diamond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Monongahela
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- New Eagle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Riverview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Riverview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Baidland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Baidland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
- Donora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- MacDonald
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- MacDonald is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for MacDonald
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Arnold, see our County-by-County Page for Arnold.
Cemeteries Near Arnold ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Arnold.
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 Arnold - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Arnold covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- St. Clemens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Springdale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dugan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prospect Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect Cemetery
- The Prospect Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tarentum Burying Ground
- Tarentum Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45831 <2>
- Deer Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Mark Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Our Lady of Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bethesda Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (402 more) ...
- Greenwood Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Airy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
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 in 1895, Arnold had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Arnold had a population of 4,790 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Arnold, with the one closest to Arnold listed first.
- Valley Camp
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Valley Camp is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Camp
- New Kensington
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Creighton
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hites
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hites is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hites
- Parnassus
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Tarentum
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Springdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Brackenridge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cheswick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Braeburn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Braeburn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braeburn
- Natrona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Natrona is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Rural Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Milligantown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Milligantown is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milligantown
- Metcalf
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Metcalf is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalf
- Karns
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Karns is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Arnold. See our List of 1890's Communities around Arnold.
Newspapers Published in Arnold ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Arnold.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Arnold, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Arnold.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Arnold:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Westmoreland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Beaver County
- Butler County
- Clarion County
- Indiana 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> | 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 Arnold, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Arnold) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |