RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> Commonwealth of Pennsylvania >> Blair County >> East Altoona >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 East Altoona (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 East Altoona. 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 East Altoona ...

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 East Altoona: E. Altoona

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.

East Altoona 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 East Altoona. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to East Altoona:

  • Blair County     (The home county of East Altoona)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • Altoona
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bellwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Culp
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Culp is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
    • Highland Fling
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Highland Fling is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Fling
    • Canan
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Canan is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
    • Eldorado
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Eldorado is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
    • Tipton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Frankstown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Frankstown is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankstown
    • Flowing Spring
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Flowing Spring is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowing Spring
    • Point View
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Point View is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point View
    • Cross Keys
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cross Keys is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
    • Franklin Forge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Franklin Forge is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Forge
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • King
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • King is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
    • Maria
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Maria is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maria
    • Pavia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Pavia is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavia
    • Waterside
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Waterside is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterside
    • Loysburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • New Enterprise
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • New Enterprise is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Enterprise
    • Woodbury
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Marble City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Marble City is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble City
    • Osterburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Riddlesburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Riddlesburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddlesburg
    • Salemville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Salemville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemville
    • Yellow Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Yellow Creek is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
  • Cambria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • Buckhorn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Buckhorn is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Lloydville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Lloydville is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloydville
    • Dean
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Dean is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dean
    • Dysart
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Dysart is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysart
    • Ashville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Gallitzin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Tunnelhill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tunnelhill is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelhill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
    • Amsbry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Amsbry is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsbry
    • Spindley City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Spindley City is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spindley City
    • Fallentimber
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Summit
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Summit is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Chest Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Chest Springs is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chest Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 138 people
  • Centre County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • Sandy Ridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
    • New Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • New Town is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Marengo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Marengo is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
    • Glass City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Glass City is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
    • Musser
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Musser is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musser
    • Port Matilda
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • South Philipsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
    • Ramblewood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ramblewood is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramblewood
    • Stormstown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Stormstown is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stormstown
    • Philipsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Fairbrook
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairbrook is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbrook
    • North Philipsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
  • Clearfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • Utahville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Utahville is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utahville
    • Ginter
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Ginter is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginter
    • Blain City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Blain City is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
    • Coalport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lyleville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lyleville is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyleville
    • Hegarty Crossroads
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Hegarty Crossroads is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegarty Crossroads
    • Ramey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Ramey is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people
    • Rosebud
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Rosebud is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
    • Houtzdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Glen Hope
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Glen Hope is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Hope
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Irvona
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Brisbin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Brisbin is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brisbin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 385 people
  • Huntingdon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • Water Street
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Water Street is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Street
    • Birmingham
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Alexandria
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Pennington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
    • Huntingdon Furnace
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntingdon Furnace is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntingdon Furnace
    • Hesston
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Marklesburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Marklesburg is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marklesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 194 people
    • Petersburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Seven Stars
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Seven Stars is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
    • McConnellstown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • McConnellstown is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnellstown
    • Entriken
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Dungarvin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • Uniontown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Uniontown is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
    • Alverda
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Alverda is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverda
    • Grisemore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Grisemore is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
    • Cherry Tree
      (28 miles [45.1 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
    • Heilwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Heilwood is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilwood
    • Rexis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Rexis is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rexis
    • Glen Campbell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Hillsdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Cookport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Cookport is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookport
    • Pine Flats
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Pine Flats is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Flats
  • Mifflin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Altoona, with the one closest to East Altoona listed first.
    • Allensville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Kistler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Kistler is located in Mifflin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kistler
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
    • Atkinson Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Atkinson Mills is located in Mifflin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson Mills
    • Newton Hamilton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Newton Hamilton is located in Mifflin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Hamilton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
  • Somerset County
    • Ogletown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ogletown is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogletown

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

Cemeteries Near East Altoona ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of East Altoona.

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 East Altoona - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Hill Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Rose Hill Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Altoona.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45918 <2>
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Grandview Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Grandview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Altoona.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44953 <2>
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Oak Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Antis Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Agudath Achim Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St.s Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (318 more) ...
    • St.s Peter & Paul RC Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Logan Valley Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 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.<3>

While we didn't find East Altoona in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of East Altoona.

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

  • Juniata
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Juniata is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
  • Altoona
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Allegheny Furnace
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Allegheny Furnace is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegheny Furnace
  • Bellwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Roots
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Roots is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roots
  • Wopsononock
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Wopsononock is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wopsononock
  • Culp
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Culp is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
  • Fostoria
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fostoria is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
  • Eldorado
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Eldorado is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
  • Canan
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Canan is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
  • Canoe Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Canoe Creek is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoe Creek
  • Stiffler
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Stiffler is located in Blair County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiffler
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Frankstown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Frankstown is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankstown
    • Flowing Spring
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Flowing Spring is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowing Spring
    • Point View
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Point View is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point View

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

Newspapers Published in East Altoona ...

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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around East Altoona.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of East Altoona, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for East Altoona.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 East Altoona:

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 East Altoona, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- East Altoona) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.