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 Brackenridge (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 Brackenridge. 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 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.
Brackenridge is located in Allegheny 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 Allegheny County: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington & Westmoreland.
Below are the counties that are near Brackenridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brackenridge:
- Allegheny County (The home county of Brackenridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Tarentum
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Natrona
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Natrona is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Karns
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Karns is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
- Sligo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sligo is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
- Springdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rural Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cheswick
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Harwick
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Harwick is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
- Russellton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Culmerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Culmerville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culmerville
- Indianola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Curtisville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Curtisville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtisville
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Freeport
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Leechburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Aladdin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- Apollo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Apollo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- McVille
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- McVille is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
- Orchard Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Neale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- Slate Lick
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Slate Lick is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Lick
- Spring Church
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Rosston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rosston is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- Edmon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Beaver County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Economy
(23 miles [37 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
- Wallace City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Wallace City is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace City
- Knob
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Knob is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Ambridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Baden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Conway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- South Heights
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Aliquippa
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Crestmont Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Crestmont Village is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestmont Village
- Freedom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Barrisville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Barrisville is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrisville
- East Rochester
(28 miles [45.1 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 Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Ekastown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Ekastown is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
- Monroe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Leasureville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Saxonburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Dennys Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
- Frazier Mill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
- Glade Mills
(12 miles [19.3 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 west)
- Great Belt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Great Belt is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Belt
- Herman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mars
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nixon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nixon is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- East Brady
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Phillipston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Phillipston is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- Catfish
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Catfish is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Lawsonham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lawsonham is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonham
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- White
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Clarksburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Saltsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- West Lebanon
(20 miles [32.2 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 southeast)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Parkwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Parkwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Shelocta
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Aultman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Aultman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
- Blairsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shado-Wood Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Shado-Wood Village is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shado-Wood Village
- Smathers
(28 miles [45.1 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 Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Ellsworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ellsworth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Gastonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonville
- Finleyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Black Diamond
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Monongahela
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- New Eagle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- McMurray
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thompsonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thompsonville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Donora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Baidland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Baidland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
- MacDonald
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- MacDonald is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for MacDonald
- McDonald
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Lower Burrell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Arnold
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Kensington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Parnassus
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Bagdad
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
- Weinel Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
- West Leechburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- 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
(8 miles [12.9 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
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oklahoma
(8 miles [12.9 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
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- North Washington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brackenridge, see our County-by-County Page for Brackenridge.
Cemeteries Near Brackenridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brackenridge.
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 Brackenridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brackenridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Prospect Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- 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>
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Clemens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mt. Airy Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Our Lady of Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bethesda Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Springdale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (402 more) ...
- Dugan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Brookland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Millerstown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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, Brackenridge had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Brackenridge had a population of 3,113 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brackenridge, with the one closest to Brackenridge listed first.
- Tarentum
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Braeburn
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Braeburn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braeburn
- Natrona
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Natrona is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Creighton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hites
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hites is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hites
- Valley Camp
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Camp is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Camp
- Arnold
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Kensington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Metcalf
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Metcalf is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalf
- Karns
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Karns is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
- Parnassus
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Sligo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sligo is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Rural Ridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Springdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Milligantown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Milligantown is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milligantown
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brackenridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brackenridge.
Newspapers Published in Brackenridge ...
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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brackenridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brackenridge, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brackenridge.
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 Brackenridge:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Allegheny County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Beaver County
- Butler County
- Clarion County
- Indiana County
- Washington County
- Westmoreland 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 Brackenridge, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Brackenridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |