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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 Center Valley (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 Center Valley. 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.

Name Variations for Center Valley ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Center Valley: Center Vly. (or less commonly used: Center Vally. or Center Vlly.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Center Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Center Valley.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Center Valley is located in Armstrong 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 Armstrong County: Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson & Westmoreland.

Below are the counties that are near Center Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Center Valley:

  • Armstrong County     (The home county of Center Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.
    • Neale
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Neale is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
    • McVille
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • McVille is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
    • Tunnelville ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Tunnelville is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelville
    • Rosston
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Rosston is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
    • West Ford City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • West Ford City is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ford City
    • Ford City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Ford Cliff
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ford Cliff is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford Cliff
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 347 people
    • Lenape Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lenape Heights is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenape Heights
    • Aladdin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
    • Dog Town
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Dog Town is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dog Town
    • Slate Lick
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Slate Lick is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Lick
    • Leechburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Allegheny County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.
    • Sligo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sligo is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
    • Karns
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Karns is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
    • Natrona
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Natrona is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Brackenridge
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Tarentum
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Culmerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Culmerville is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culmerville
    • Rural Ridge
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Russellton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Springdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Curtisville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Curtisville is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtisville
    • Cheswick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Harwick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Harwick is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.
    • Leasureville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Leasureville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
    • Monroe
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Monroe is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
    • Dennys Mills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
    • Ekastown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Ekastown is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
    • Fenelton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Saxonburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Great Belt
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Great Belt is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Belt
    • Herman
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Frazier Mill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
    • Saint Joe
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Saint Joe is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joe
    • East Butler
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Glade Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Glade Mills is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Mills
  • Clarion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.
    • Phillipston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Phillipston is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
    • East Brady
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Catfish
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Catfish is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
    • Lawsonham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Lawsonham is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonham
    • Bela
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Bela is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bela
    • Rimersburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • New Bethlehem
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Leatherwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Leatherwood is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
    • Fairmont City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Piolett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Piolett is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piolett
    • Toby
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Toby is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toby
    • Hawthorn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.
    • West Lebanon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
    • Shelocta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Saltsburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Clarksburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Parkwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Parkwood is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • White
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • White is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Willet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Willet is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willet
    • Aultman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Aultman is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
    • Jacksonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
    • Beyer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Beyer is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beyer
    • Creekside
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Creekside is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creekside
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
    • Bow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bow is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.
    • Langville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Langville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langville
    • Valier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Valier is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.
    • Hyde Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Bagdad
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
    • West Leechburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • West Leechburg is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leechburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
    • Weinel Crossroads
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
    • East Vandergrift
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • East Vandergrift is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vandergrift
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 631 people
    • Vandergrift
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Oklahoma
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Oklahoma is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oklahoma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 739 people
    • Lower Burrell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • North Washington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
    • Avonmore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Arnold
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Arnold is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,790 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arnold <1>
    • New Kensington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Center Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Center Valley.

Cemeteries Near Center Valley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Center Valley.

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 Center Valley - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Center Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.

  • Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the north of Leechburg.
    • The Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Forks - Zion Lutheran Evangelical Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #629382 <3>
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Murphys Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Ukrainian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Catherine Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • St. Catherines Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Porter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Ford City Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Holy Trinity Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Freeport Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Freeport Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Freeport.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44888 <3>
  • Continue List   (303 more) ...

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 Center Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Center Valley.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Center Valley, with the one closest to Center Valley listed first.

  • Neale
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Neale is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
  • McVille
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • McVille is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
  • North Buffalo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • North Buffalo is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Buffalo
  • Tunnelville ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Tunnelville is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelville
  • Rosston
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Rosston is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
  • Aladdin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
  • Dime
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Dime is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dime
  • Ford City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • McHaddon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • McHaddon is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McHaddon
  • Bagdad
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
  • Leechburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Slate Lick
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Slate Lick is located in Armstrong County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Lick
  • Continue List   (20 more) ...
    • Freeport
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Garvers Ferry
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Garvers Ferry is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garvers Ferry
    • Cochrans Mills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Center Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Center Valley.

Newspapers Published in Center Valley ...

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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Center Valley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Center Valley, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Center Valley.

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 Center Valley:

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>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- Center Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Center Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.