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 Brandon (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 Brandon. 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 doctors 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.
Brandon is located in Venango 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 Venango County: Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Mercer & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Brandon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brandon:
- Venango County (The home county of Brandon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Coal City
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Coal City is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Uniontown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Uniontown is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Pearl
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pearl is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
- Franklin
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Nicklin
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Nicklin is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicklin
- Polk
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Polk is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Saint George
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint George is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Bullion
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bullion is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Cranberry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cranberry is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranberry
- Sugarcreek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sugarcreek is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarcreek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,868 people
- Emlenton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Henderson Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Henderson Station is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Station
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Parker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fredericksburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fredericksburg is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
- Bradys Bend
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bradys Bend is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradys Bend
- Kaylor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Kaylor is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaylor
- Queenstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Queenstown is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queenstown
- Wattersonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wattersonville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattersonville
- Tidal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tidal is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidal
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Cherry Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cherry Valley is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Eau Claire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Murrinsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Murrinsville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murrinsville
- Ferris
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ferris is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferris
- Harrisville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Forestville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Forestville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Bovard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bovard is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bovard
- Branchton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Branchton is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchton
- Bruin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bruin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 489 people
- Slippery Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 186 people
- Hallston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hallston is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallston
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Lamartine
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lamartine is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamartine
- Foxburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Petersburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alum Rock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alum Rock is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Rock
- Monroe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Turkey City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Turkey City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey City
- Beaver City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Beaver City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Knox
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Pine City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Pine City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine City
- Jefferson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Wentlings Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wentlings Corners is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentlings Corners
- Elk City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Elk City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Deckard
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Deckard is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deckard
- Cochranton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Black Ash
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Black Ash is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Ash
- Fauncetown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fauncetown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fauncetown
- Gresham
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gresham is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Guys Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Frenchtown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Frenchtown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchtown
- Titusville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hydetown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hydetown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Townville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Townville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Wayland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wayland is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
- Geneva
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Geneva is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Tionesta
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Jamison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jamison is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison
- Fagundus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fagundus is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagundus
- Trunkeyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Trunkeyville is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trunkeyville
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Volant
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Harlansburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Harlansburg is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlansburg
- Grant City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grant City is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant City
- New Wilmington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- McCaslin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- McCaslin is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCaslin
- Rose Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rose Point is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Point
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Kilgore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kilgore is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilgore
- North Sandy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Sandy is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sandy
- Perrine Corners
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Perrine Corners is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrine Corners
- Sandy Lake
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- New Lebanon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Lebanon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Stoneboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Enterprise
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Perrys Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Perrys Corners is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrys Corners
- Milledgeville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Milledgeville is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milledgeville
- New Vernon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- New Vernon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Vernon
- Swamproot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Swamproot is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swamproot
- Jackson Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Enterprise
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Enterprise is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Selkirk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Selkirk is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selkirk
- York County
- Adamsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Adamsville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brandon, see our County-by-County Page for Brandon.
Cemeteries Near Brandon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brandon.
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 Brandon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brandon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Morrison Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Melat Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Graham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shaffer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Old Sandy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Gadsby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rockland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Hill Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Franklin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Franklin Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Franklin.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44879 <2>
- Continue List (170 more) ...
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Woods Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pleasantview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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, Brandon had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brandon, with the one closest to Brandon listed first.
- Coal City
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Coal City is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Foster
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Foster is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Kennerdell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pearl
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pearl is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
- East Sandy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- East Sandy is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sandy
- Astral
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Astral is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astral
- Bullion
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bullion is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Saint George
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Saint George is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Rockland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Rockland is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Franklin
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Polk
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Polk is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Niles
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Niles is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niles
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Raymilton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Raymilton is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymilton
- Sugarcreek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sugarcreek is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarcreek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,868 people
- Emlenton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brandon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brandon.
Newspapers Published in Brandon ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brandon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brandon, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brandon.
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 helpful 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 Brandon:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Venango County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Butler County
- Clarion County
- Crawford County
- Forest County
- Lawrence County
- Mercer County
- Warren County
- York 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 Brandon, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Brandon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |