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 Bessemer (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 Bessemer. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Bessemer 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 Bessemer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bessemer:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of Bessemer)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- Iron Bridge
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Iron Bridge is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Bridge
- West Overton
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- West Overton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Overton
- Mount Pleasant
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Alverton
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Alverton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverton
- Hawkeye
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hawkeye is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Mount Joy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Joy is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
- Scottdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Calumet
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kecksburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
- Hunker
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Stanton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- United
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- United is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for United
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- Buena Vista
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Sunny Side
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
- Boston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
- Versailles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Versailles is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,452 people
- Clairton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Elizabeth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,438 people
- West Elizabeth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- White Oak
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- McKeesport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mendelssohn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mendelssohn is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendelssohn
- Armstrong County
- Edmon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- Laurelville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- Everson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- Bear Rocks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
- Connellsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- White
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- White is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Dawson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dickerson Run
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dickerson Run is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickerson Run
- Vanderbilt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sitka
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sitka is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
- South Connellsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rogerstown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rogerstown is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogerstown
- Banning
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Banning is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banning
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- Stringtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Cumberland Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cumberland Village is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Nemacolin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nemacolin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
- Rices Landing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carmichaels
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fairdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fairdale is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Chartiers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chartiers is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers
- Clarksville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ceylon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ceylon is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
- Greensboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Khedive
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Khedive is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- White
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Bow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Blairsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Clarksburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Black Lick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Palmertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- Bakersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bakersville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Draketown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Draketown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
- New Lexington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- New Lexington is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Laurel Mountain Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lavansville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lavansville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavansville
- Roytown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Roytown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roytown
- New Centerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Centerville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Centerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Husband
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Husband is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband
- Sipesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sipesville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipesville
- Casselman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Casselman is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Confluence
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jennerstown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- Donora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Allenport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Dunlevy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Roscoe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Roscoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Speers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Speers is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
- Twilight
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Twilight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Black Diamond
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Blainsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Blainsburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsburg
- California
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Charleroi
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Coal Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Elco
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Elco is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Preston County (WV)
- Clifton Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bessemer, see our County-by-County Page for Bessemer.
Cemeteries Near Bessemer ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bessemer.
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 Bessemer - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bessemer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Fairview Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Green Lick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Polish Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Scottdale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Green Ridge Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Stone Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cochran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (325 more) ...
- Holy Trinity Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Trinity Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Trinity Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Connellsville.
- The Holy Trinity Cemetery has also been known as:
- Holy Trinity RC Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1993674 <2>
- St. Emery's Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Emery's Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Emery's Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the north of Connellsville.
- The St. Emery's Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Emery Cemetery
- St. Emery New Cemetery
- St. Emerys Cemetery
- St. Emory Cemetery
- St. Emory New Cemetery
- St. Emorys Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46020 <2>
- St. Ritas Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Ritas Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Ritas Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Connellsville.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46251 <2>
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.<4>
While we didn't find Bessemer in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bessemer.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bessemer, with the one closest to Bessemer listed first.
- West Overton
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- West Overton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Overton
- Iron Bridge
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Iron Bridge is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Bridge
- Hawkeye
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hawkeye is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Morewood
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Morewood is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morewood
- Mount Pleasant
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Scottdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Everson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- Pennsville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pennsville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennsville
- Laurelville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- Tarrs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Owensdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Owensdale is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owensdale
- Ruffs Dale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Moyer
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Moyer is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyer
- Southwest
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Southwest is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest
- Foxtown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Foxtown is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxtown
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bessemer. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bessemer.
Newspapers Published in Bessemer ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bessemer.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bessemer, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bessemer.
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 Bessemer:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Westmoreland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Indiana County
- Somerset County
- Washington County
- Preston 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Bessemer) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Bessemer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |