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 Dayton (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 Dayton. 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 and doctors 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.
Dayton 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 Dayton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dayton:
- Armstrong County (The home county of Dayton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Eddyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Eddyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
- Barnards
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Bryan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bryan is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan
- Echo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Echo is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Muff
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Muff is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muff
- McWilliams
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- McWilliams is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Putneyville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Putneyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putneyville
- Rural Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oscar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oscar is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
- Yatesboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Yatesboro is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yatesboro
- Deanville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Deanville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deanville
- Atwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Atwood is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Blanco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blanco is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanco
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Sligo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sligo is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
- Karns
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Karns is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Kepples Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kepples Corners is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kepples Corners
- Fenelton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Leasureville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Chicora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dennys Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
- Karns City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Millerstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Millerstown is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerstown
- Petrolia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Petrolia is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Bruin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bruin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 489 people
- Monroe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 186 people
- Saint Joe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Saint Joe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joe
- North Oakland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- North Oakland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Oakland
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Garmantown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- Barnesboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Northern Cambria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Northern Cambria is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northern Cambria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,456 people
- West Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Nicktown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Spangler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Spangler is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- White Mill Crossing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- White Mill Crossing is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Mill Crossing
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Hawthorn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fairmont City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Bethlehem
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Leatherwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Leatherwood is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Brinkerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brinkerton is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkerton
- Lawsonham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lawsonham is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonham
- Piolett
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Piolett is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piolett
- Crates
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Crates is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crates
- Frogtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Frogtown is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogtown
- Rimersburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Curllsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Curllsville is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curllsville
- Catfish
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Catfish is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Phillipston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Phillipston is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Burnside
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Burnside is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Troutville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Troutville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troutville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Mahaffey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Stanley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stanley is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Helvetia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Helvetia is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helvetia
- New Washington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- New Washington is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Sylvis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sylvis is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvis
- Bower
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bower is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bower
- Newburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Newburg is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Luthersburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Curry Run
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Curry Run is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry Run
- DuBois
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Smicksburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beyer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Beyer is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beyer
- Georgeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Georgeville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
- Trade City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Trade City is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade City
- Elkin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Elkin is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkin
- Plumville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Plumville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
- Mottarns Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mottarns Mill is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottarns Mill
- Willet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Willet is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willet
- Ambrose
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ambrose is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ambrose
- Davis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Davis is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Marchand
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Marchand is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marchand
- Chambersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Chambersville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersville
- Home
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Home is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Valier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Valier is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
- Timblin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Timblin is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timblin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Langville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Langville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langville
- Worthville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Worthville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Pansy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pansy is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Coolspring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oliveburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oliveburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveburg
- Punxsutawney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Ohl
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ohl is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ohl
- Albion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Summerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Summerville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 501 people
- Green Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Green Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- Baxter
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Baxter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Hyde Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Leechburg
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Avonmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bagdad
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
- East Vandergrift
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- East Vandergrift is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vandergrift
- Population from the 2020 Census: 631 people
- Vandergrift
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oklahoma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oklahoma is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oklahoma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 739 people
- Weinel Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
- Salina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Livermore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Livermore is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livermore
- North Washington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- 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 Dayton, see our County-by-County Page for Dayton.
Cemeteries Near Dayton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dayton.
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 Dayton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dayton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Dayton Glad Run Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Smicksburg Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dunkard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jerusalem Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- White Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oakland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Bethlehem Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mateer Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Harmony Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Grove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Harmony Grove Cemetery is located between<3> the communities of Beyer and Shelocta. The cemetery lies 3 miles [4.8 km]<4> to the south of Beyer.
- The Harmony Grove Cemetery has also been known as:
- Five Points Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45039 <2>
- Continue List (183 more) ...
- Plum Creek Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Round Top Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Perry Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
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.<5>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Dayton had a population of 372 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Dayton had a population of 503 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dayton, with the one closest to Dayton listed first.
- Belknap
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Belknap is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Echo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Echo is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Bryan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bryan is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan
- Barnards
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Eddyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Eddyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
- Denton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Denton is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denton
- Smicksburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Loop
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Loop is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loop
- Muff
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Muff is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muff
- Porter
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Porter is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Putneyville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Putneyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putneyville
- McWilliams
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- McWilliams is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Rural Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- North Point is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Point
- Goheenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Goheenville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goheenville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dayton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dayton.
Newspapers Published in Dayton ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dayton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dayton, 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 Dayton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Dayton:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Armstrong County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Butler County
- Cambria County
- Clarion County
- Clearfield County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence 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> | To help visualize the location of the cemetery, we've drawn a straight line between the communities of Beyer and Shelocta. The cemetery can be found near that line and roughly halfway between the two communities. Remember that this is just an approximate location. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Dayton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <5> | 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 Dayton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |