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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 Fairview (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 Fairview. 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 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 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.

Fairview is located in Somerset 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 Somerset County: Allegany (MD), Garrett (MD), Bedford, Cambria, Fayette & Westmoreland.

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

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Fairview)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Boswell
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Friedens
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Coleman
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Coleman is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Somerset
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Shanksville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Berlin
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Milford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Milford is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
    • Downey
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Downey is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
    • Mostoller
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mostoller is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mostoller
    • Gideon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Gideon is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
    • Husband
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Husband is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband
    • Beachdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Beachdale is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachdale
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Kegg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
    • Hyndman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Schellsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • New Paris
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Cooks Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Stringtown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Stringtown is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Manns Choice
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Pleasantville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Pleasantville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
    • Wolfsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Wolfsburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfsburg
    • Charlesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Charlesville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
    • Beans Cove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Beans Cove is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Cove
    • Bedford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Cambria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Ingleside
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Ingleside is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
    • Scalp Level
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Scalp Level is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalp Level
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 691 people
    • Belmont
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Belmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Elim
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Elim is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
    • Ferndale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Geistown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Geistown is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geistown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,242 people
    • Dale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Dale is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,110 people
    • Lorain
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Lorain is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 680 people
    • Southmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Southmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
    • Westmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Westmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,625 people
    • Brownstown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Conemaugh
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Conemaugh is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conemaugh
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Seven Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Champion
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Indian Head
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • White
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Bear Rocks
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
    • Laurelville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Laurelville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
    • Ohiopyle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Markleysburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • South Connellsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Indiana County
    • Robinson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Robinson is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Laughlintown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Laurel Mountain
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Laurel Mountain is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Laurel Mountain has also been known as:
      • Laurel Mountain Park
    • Rector
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Stahlstown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Donegal
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ligonier
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Darlington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
    • West Fairfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
    • Kecksburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
    • Kingston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingston is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
    • Lycippus
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Lycippus is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycippus
  • Allegany County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Mount Savage
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Barrelville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrelville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrelville
    • Zihlman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Zihlman is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zihlman
    • Ellerslie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ellerslie is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerslie
    • Eckhart Mines
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Eckhart Mines is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckhart Mines
    • Frostburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Corriganville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Corriganville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corriganville
    • Mount Savage Junction
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Savage Junction is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Savage Junction
    • Clarysville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Clarysville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
    • Midlothian
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Midlothian is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midlothian
    • Borden Shaft
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Borden Shaft is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Shaft
    • La Vale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Grantsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Avilton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
    • Bittinger
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Accident
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Mineral County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairview, with the one closest to Fairview listed first.
    • Ridgeley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Carpendale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
    • Wiley Ford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Fairview ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fairview.

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

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

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

  • Listie Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Pike Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Pugh Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mispah Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mispah Lutheran Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Mispah Lutheran Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the west of Shanksville.
    • The Mispah Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mispah Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188400 <2>
  • Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Friedens.
    • The Friedens Luthern Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Friedens Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2207909 <2>
  • Husband Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Union Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Lichty Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Weller Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (177 more) ...
    • Schmucker Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Garrett Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Highland Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>

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

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

  • Geiger
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Geiger is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geiger
  • Coleman
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Coleman is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
  • Friedens
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Somerset
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Berlin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Shanksville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Shamrock
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Shamrock is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
  • Shober
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Shober is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shober
  • Beachdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Beachdale is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachdale
  • Mineral Spring
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Mineral Spring is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Spring
  • Pine Hill Station
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Pine Hill Station is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill Station
  • Gideon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Gideon is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Downey
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Downey is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downey
    • Mostoller
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mostoller is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mostoller
    • Husband
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Husband is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband

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

Newspapers Published in Fairview ...

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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fairview.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fairview, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fairview.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Fairview:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Fairview) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Fairview, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.