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 Charleston (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 Charleston. 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.
Charleston is located in Mercer 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 Mercer County: Mahoning (OH), Trumbull (OH), Butler, Crawford, Lawrence & Venango.
Below are the counties that are near Charleston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Charleston:
- Mercer County (The home county of Charleston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Hermitage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Carbon
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Carbon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- West Middlesex
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mercer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sharon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sharpsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Coolspring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coolspring is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolspring
- Fredonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Farrell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Grove City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wheatland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kremis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Kremis is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kremis
- Clark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Beaver County
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Ellwood City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wurtemburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wurtemburg is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurtemburg
- Frisco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Frisco is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Koppel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lillyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lillyville is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lillyville
- New Galilee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- New Galilee is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Galilee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
- North Sewickley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- North Sewickley is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sewickley
- Big Beaver
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Big Beaver is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,827 people
- Darlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Homewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Homewood is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Thompson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Thompson is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Cannelton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Cannelton is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannelton
- Goehring
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Goehring is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goehring
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Harrisville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Slippery Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Forestville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Forestville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Branchton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Branchton is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchton
- West Liberty
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Liberty is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Bovard
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bovard is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bovard
- Hallston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hallston is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallston
- Portersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Murrinsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Murrinsville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murrinsville
- Ferris
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ferris is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferris
- Prospect
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Sunbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cherry Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cherry Valley is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Adamsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Adamsville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Atlantic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Atlantic is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlantic
- Pymatuning South
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pymatuning South is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pymatuning South
- Turner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Turner is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
- Turnersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Turnersville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnersville
- Hartstown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hartstown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartstown
- Geneva
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Geneva is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Westford
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Westford is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westford
- Pymatuning Central
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pymatuning Central is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pymatuning Central
- Conneaut Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cochranton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Espyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lynces Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lynces Junction is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynces Junction
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- New Wilmington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Pulaski
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pulaski is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Volant
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Nashua
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nashua is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nashua
- New Bedford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- New Bedford is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bedford
- Edinburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Oakwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Oakwood is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Robinson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Robinson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- McCaslin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- McCaslin is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCaslin
- New Castle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- West New Castle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- West New Castle is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West New Castle
- Harlansburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Harlansburg is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlansburg
- Hillsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hillsville is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsville
- Venango County
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Henderson Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Henderson Station is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henderson Station
- Barkeyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Nectarine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Nectarine is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nectarine
- Pearl
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pearl is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
- Bullion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bullion is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullion
- Polk
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Polk is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 768 people
- Clintonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Utica
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Utica is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utica
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Nicklin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nicklin is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicklin
- Sugarcreek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sugarcreek is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarcreek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,868 people
- Coal City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Coal City is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Eakin Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Eakin Corner is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eakin Corner
- Uniontown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Uniontown is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- York County
- Adamsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Adamsville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Ashtabula County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Simons
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Simons is located in Ashtabula County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simons
- Stanhope
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stanhope is located in Ashtabula County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanhope
- West Williamsfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Williamsfield is located in Ashtabula County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Williamsfield
- Wick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wick is located in Ashtabula County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wick
- Andover
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Andover
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- West Andover is located in Ashtabula County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Andover
- Colebrook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Colebrook is located in Ashtabula County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colebrook
- Columbiana County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Unity
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Unity is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity
- State Line ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- State Line is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
- East Palestine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Columbiana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Waterford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin County (OH)
- Hilltop
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hilltop is located in Franklin County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltop
- Mahoning County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Campbell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lowellville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hazelton is located in Mahoning County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelton
- Youngstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Struthers
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Poland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Perkins Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Perkins Corners is located in Mahoning County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins Corners
- Boardman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cornersburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cornersburg is located in Mahoning County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersburg
- New Middletown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mineral Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Austintown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- West Austintown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- West Austintown is located in Mahoning County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Austintown
- Trumbull County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- West Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- West Hill is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hill
- Five Points
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Five Points is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Masury
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Orangeville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Orangeville is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orangeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 173 people
- Brookfield Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Brookfield Center is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield Center
- Weldon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Weldon is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Hartford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hartford is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Yankee Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Yankee Lake is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yankee Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Hubbard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coalburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Coalburg is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalburg
- Burghill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Maplewood Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Maplewood Park is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maplewood Park
- Paynes Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Paynes Corner is located in Trumbull County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynes Corner
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Charleston, see our County-by-County Page for Charleston.
Cemeteries Near Charleston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Charleston.
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 Charleston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Charleston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Zahniser Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Cross Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Farrell.
- The Holy Cross Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Adalbert Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2203767 <2>
- St. Stanislaus Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Holy Trinity Hungarian RC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Holy Trinty Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. Anthonys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Anthonys Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Anthonys Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Farrell.
- The St. Anthonys Cemetery has also been known as:
- Italian Cemetery
- Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45979 <2>
- St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Farrell.
- The St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Mary's Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2205976 <2>
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- United Brethren Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for United Brethren Cemetery
- The United Brethren Cemetery has also been known as:
- Little Jim Cemetery
- Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (345 more) ...
- St. Rose Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- America's Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Morefield Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morefield Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Morefield Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Hermitage.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188999 <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.<3>
While we didn't find Charleston in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Charleston.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Charleston, with the one closest to Charleston listed first.
- Neshannock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Hoagland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hoagland is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoagland
- Hermitage
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- West Middlesex
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Carbon
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Carbon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Mercer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- New Hamburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- New Hamburg is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hamburg
- Sharpsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sharon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wheatland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Indian Run
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Run is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Run
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Hope Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hope Mills is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope Mills
- Oakland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Transfer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Charleston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Charleston.
Newspapers Published in Charleston ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Charleston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Charleston, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Charleston.
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 websites either 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 Charleston:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Mercer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Beaver County
- Butler County
- Crawford County
- Lawrence County
- Venango County
- York County
- Ashtabula County
- Columbiana County
- Franklin County
- Mahoning County
- Trumbull 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 Charleston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 from Point A (ie- Charleston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |