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 Belford (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 Belford. 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 hospitals 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.
Belford is located in Clearfield 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 Clearfield County: Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Indiana & Jefferson.
Below are the counties that are near Belford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belford:
- Clearfield County (The home county of Belford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Pottersdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pottersdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersdale
- Keewaydin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
- Kylertown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Morrisdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wallaceton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wallaceton is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallaceton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
- Woodland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Barrett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Barrett is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
- West Decatur
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Decatur is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Decatur
- West Decatur has also been known as:
- Blue Ball
- Decatur
- Chester Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Chester Hill is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 820 people
- Clearfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Mount Joy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Mount Joy is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
- Cameron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Wyside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Wyside is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyside
- Driftwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Mix Run
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mix Run is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mix Run
- Huntley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Huntley is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Cameron
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cameron is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Emporium
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Weber City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Weber City is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
- Beechwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Centre County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Pine Glen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Glen is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Glen
- Moshannon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Moshannon is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moshannon
- Clarence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Poorman Side
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Poorman Side is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poorman Side
- Snow Shoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pancake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pancake is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancake
- Casanova
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Casanova is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casanova
- North Philipsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
- Philipsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Unionville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- South Philipsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
- Central City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Central City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Keating
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Keating is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keating
- Cooks Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cooks Run is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Run
- Bitumen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bitumen is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bitumen
- Westport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hammersley Fork
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hammersley Fork is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammersley Fork
- Renovo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Renovo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Renovo is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Renovo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 422 people
- Farwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Farwell is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farwell
- North Bend
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Beech Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Abdera
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Abdera is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abdera
- Farrandsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Farrandsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrandsville
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Dents Run
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Dents Run is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
- Grant
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Grant is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Benezette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Byrnedale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Scattertown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Scattertown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Dungarvin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
- Pennington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belford, see our County-by-County Page for Belford.
Cemeteries Near Belford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belford.
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 Belford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Keewaydin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ganoe Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Severin Old Log Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Severins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Askey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Nelson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Murray Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Congress Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Kylertown Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hunter Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (111 more) ...
- New Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Belford had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belford, with the one closest to Belford listed first.
- Karthaus
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pottersdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pottersdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersdale
- Pine Glen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Glen is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Glen
- Keewaydin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
- Frenchville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Frenchville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchville
- Moshannon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Moshannon is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moshannon
- Peale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Peale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peale
- Gillintown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Gillintown is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillintown
- Snow Shoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Clarence
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lecontes Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Kylertown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Fountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fountain is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain
- Winburne
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Winburne is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winburne
- Butts
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Butts is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butts
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belford.
Newspapers Published in Belford ...
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 Belford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belford, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Belford:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Clearfield County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cameron County
- Centre County
- Clinton County
- Elk County
- Huntingdon 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 Belford, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Belford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |