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 Bretonville (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 Bretonville. 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 and 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.
Bretonville 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 Bretonville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bretonville:
- Clearfield County (The home county of Bretonville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Gazzam
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gazzam is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gazzam
- Mayes
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mayes is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayes
- Cherry Corner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cherry Corner is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Corner
- Thompsontown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Thompsontown is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsontown
- Lumber City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lumber City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber City
- Estimated population in 2015: 75 people
- Olanta
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Irvona
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Glen Hope
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Hope is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Belsena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Belsena is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belsena
- Belsena has also been known as:
- Belsena Mills
- Bower
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bower is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bower
- Curry Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Curry Run is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry Run
- Blain City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Blain City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
- Blair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Highland Fling
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Highland Fling is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Fling
- Grazierville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grazierville is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grazierville
- Tipton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tyrone
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bellwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tyrone Forge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tyrone Forge is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone Forge
- Altoona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Culp
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Culp is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
- Canan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Canan is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
- Eldorado
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Eldorado is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Cross Keys
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cross Keys is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
- Duncansville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Flinton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Fallentimber
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Thomas Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Thomas Mills is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mills
- Patton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lloydville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lloydville is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloydville
- Hastings
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dean
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Dean is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dean
- Dysart
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dysart is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysart
- Barnesboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Garmantown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- Northern Cambria
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Northern Cambria is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northern Cambria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,456 people
- Saint Benedict
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Benedict is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Benedict
- Centre County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- New Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sandy Ridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Glass City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Glass City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
- Philipsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- South Philipsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
- North Philipsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
- Casanova
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Casanova is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casanova
- Port Matilda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Stormstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Stormstown is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stormstown
- Marengo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Marengo is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Scattertown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Scattertown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
- Brockport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Byrnedale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Caledonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Challenge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Challenge is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Birmingham
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Pennington
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Dungarvin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
- Huntingdon Furnace
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Huntingdon Furnace is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntingdon Furnace
- Seven Stars
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Stars is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Water Street
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Water Street is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Street
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Glen Campbell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Urey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Urey is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urey
- Hooverhurst
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hooverhurst is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverhurst
- Johnsonburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Johnsonburg is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Cherry Tree
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Tree is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Uniontown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Uniontown is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Hillsdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Rossiter
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Cookport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cookport is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookport
- Purchase Line
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Purchase Line is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purchase Line
- Alverda
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Alverda is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverda
- Commodore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Winslow
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Winslow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winslow
- Sykesville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Albion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Prescottville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Wishaw
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Punxsutawney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Falls Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Pancoast
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
- Panic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Reynoldsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Red Mill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Red Mill is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mill
- Oliveburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Oliveburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveburg
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bretonville, see our County-by-County Page for Bretonville.
Cemeteries Near Bretonville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bretonville.
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 Bretonville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bretonville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Zion Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cross Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Snyder Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Watts Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Basil Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Zion Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ferguson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- LaJose Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dunkard Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (212 more) ...
- Friends Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Spangle Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Weld Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Bretonville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bretonville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bretonville, with the one closest to Bretonville listed first.
- Ansonville
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ansonville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansonville
- Gazzam
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gazzam is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gazzam
- Berwinsdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Berwinsdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwinsdale
- Kerrmoor
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Kerrmoor is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrmoor
- Marron
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Marron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marron
- Mayes
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mayes is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayes
- New Millport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Millport is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Millport
- Irvona
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Glen Hope
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Hope is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Hope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Olanta
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lumber City
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lumber City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber City
- Estimated population in 2015: 75 people
- Five Points
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Five Points is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- McPherron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- McPherron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
- Rosebud
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rosebud is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Blain City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Blain City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bretonville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bretonville.
Newspapers Published in Bretonville ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bretonville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bretonville, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bretonville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Bretonville:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Clearfield County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blair County
- Cambria County
- Centre County
- Elk County
- Huntingdon County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence 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 Bretonville, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Bretonville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |