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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 Duncansville (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 Duncansville. 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 and hospitals 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.

Duncansville is located in Blair 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 Blair County: Bedford, Cambria, Centre & Huntingdon.

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

  • Blair County     (The home county of Duncansville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Cross Keys
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Cross Keys is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
    • Hollidaysburg
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Canan
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Canan is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
    • Newry
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Eldorado
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Eldorado is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
    • Brooks Mill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Brooks Mill is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks Mill
    • Frankstown
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Frankstown is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankstown
    • Puzzletown
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Puzzletown is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puzzletown
    • Altoona
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Roaring Spring
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • East Sharpsburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • East Sharpsburg is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharpsburg
    • Blue Knob
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Blue Knob is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Knob
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • King
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • King is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
    • Maria
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Maria is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maria
    • Pavia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Pavia is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavia
    • Waterside
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Waterside is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterside
    • New Enterprise
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • New Enterprise is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Enterprise
    • Loysburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Osterburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Woodbury
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Salemville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Salemville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemville
    • Marble City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Marble City is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble City
    • Riddlesburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Riddlesburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddlesburg
    • Pleasantville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pleasantville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
  • Cambria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Tunnelhill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tunnelhill is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelhill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Summit
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Summit is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Buckhorn
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Buckhorn is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Gallitzin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cresson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Sankertown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Sankertown is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sankertown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
    • Amsbry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Amsbry is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsbry
    • Spindley City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Spindley City is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spindley City
    • Bens Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Bens Creek is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bens Creek
    • Scarlan Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Scarlan Hill is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarlan Hill
    • Ashville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Oil City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Oil City is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
  • Centre County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Sandy Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
    • Marengo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Marengo is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
    • New Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • New Town is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
  • Clearfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Lyleville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Lyleville is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyleville
    • Utahville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Utahville is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utahville
    • Blain City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Blain City is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
    • Coalport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Rosebud
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Rosebud is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
    • Ginter
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Ginter is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginter
    • Hegarty Crossroads
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Hegarty Crossroads is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegarty Crossroads
    • Irvona
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Ramey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Ramey is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people
    • McPherron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • McPherron is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
    • Westover
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Westover is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
    • Glen Hope
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Glen Hope is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Hope
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Wells Tannery
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Wells Tannery is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Tannery
    • Waterfall
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Valley-Hi
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Valley-Hi is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley-Hi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
  • Huntingdon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Marklesburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Marklesburg is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marklesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
    • Entriken
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Hesston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Water Street
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Water Street is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Street
    • McConnellstown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • McConnellstown is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnellstown
    • Middletown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Middletown is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
    • Salter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Salter is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salter
    • Alexandria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Birmingham
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Coalmont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Coalmont is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
    • Dudley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Dudley is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 176 people
    • Broad Top City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Broad Top City is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broad Top City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Alverda
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Alverda is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverda
    • Rexis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Rexis is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rexis
    • Wehrum
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Wehrum is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wehrum
    • Grisemore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Grisemore is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
    • Heilwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Heilwood is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilwood
    • Uniontown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Uniontown is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
    • Nolo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Nolo is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nolo
    • Cherry Tree
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherry Tree is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
    • Pine Flats
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Flats is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Flats
    • Dilltown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Mifflin County
    • Kistler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Kistler is located in Mifflin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kistler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
  • Somerset County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Duncansville, with the one closest to Duncansville listed first.
    • Ogletown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ogletown is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogletown
    • Windber
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Paint
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Paint is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
    • Tire Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Tire Hill is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tire Hill
    • Central City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Benson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Benson is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
    • Blough
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Blough is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blough
    • Davidsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Forward
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Forward is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forward
    • Hollsopple
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Duncansville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Duncansville.

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 Duncansville - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Carson Valley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carson Valley Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Carson Valley Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Cross Keys.
    • The Carson Valley Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Albaughs Cemetery
    • Dunkard Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2155440 <2>
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Green Lawn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • County Home Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Hollidaysburg Presbyterian Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Blacks Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Geeseytown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geeseytown Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Geeseytown Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Frankstown.
    • The Geeseytown Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Frankstown Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1991646 <2>
  • Hutchinson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (323 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Duncansville had a population of 1,277 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Duncansville had a population of 1,148 people.

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

  • Stiffler
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Stiffler is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiffler
  • Newry
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Hollidaysburg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Canan
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Canan is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
  • Brooks Mill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Brooks Mill is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks Mill
  • Loop
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Loop is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loop
  • Eldorado
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Eldorado is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
  • East Freedom
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • McKee
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • McKee is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
  • Frankstown
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Frankstown is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankstown
  • Allegheny Furnace
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Allegheny Furnace is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegheny Furnace
  • Rodman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Rodman is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodman
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Roaring Spring
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Reese
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Reese is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
    • Altoona
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Duncansville ...

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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Duncansville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Duncansville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Duncansville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Duncansville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4> of Duncansville.

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 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 Duncansville:

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 Duncansville, 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- Duncansville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.