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 Forest (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 Forest. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Forest is located in Centre 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 Centre County: Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Forest. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Forest:
- Centre County (The home county of Forest)
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Zion
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Zion is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Curtin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Curtin is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtin
- Axemann
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Axemann is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Axemann
- Pleasant Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bellefonte
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jacksonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksonville is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Centre Hall
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Central City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Central City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Milesburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Howard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wingate
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wingate is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingate
- Centre Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Centre Hill is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre Hill
- Madisonburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Madisonburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonburg
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Pottersdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pottersdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersdale
- Kylertown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Keewaydin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
- Chester Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Chester Hill is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 820 people
- Morrisdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Osceola Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- West Decatur
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- West Decatur is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Decatur
- West Decatur has also been known as:
- Blue Ball
- Decatur
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Abdera
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Abdera is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abdera
- Lamar
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tylersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Tylersville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
- Cedar Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Springs is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Springs
- Beech Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Hall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Salona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Salona is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salona
- Rote
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rote is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rote
- Greenburr
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Greenburr is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenburr
- Flemington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Flemington is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,312 people
- Castanea
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Farrandsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Farrandsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrandsville
- Lock Haven
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Ennisville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Ennisville is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ennisville
- Neffs Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Neffs Mills is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neffs Mills
- Dungarvin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
- Donation
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Donation is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donation
- Seven Stars
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Stars is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Huntingdon Furnace
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Huntingdon Furnace is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntingdon Furnace
- Pennington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Petersburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Juniata County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Mifflin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mifflin is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mifflin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Mifflintown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- McAlisterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Swales
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Swales is located in Juniata County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swales
- Lycoming County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Jersey Shore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Antes Fort
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Antes Fort is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antes Fort
- Mifflin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Milroy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Honey Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Honey Creek is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Lumber City
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Lumber City is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber City
- Reedsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Kishacoquillas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Kishacoquillas is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kishacoquillas
- Yeagertown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Burnham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Highland Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Highland Park is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- Alfarata
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alfarata is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfarata
- Belleville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Paintersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Paintersville is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintersville
- Lewistown Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lewistown Junction is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewistown Junction
- Lewistown
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Snyder County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Bannerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bannerville is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannerville
- McClure
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Middle Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Middle Creek is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Creek
- Troxelville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Troxelville is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troxelville
- Benfer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Benfer is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benfer
- Beaver Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver Springs is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
- Beavertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Cherry Run
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cherry Run is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
- Pardee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pardee is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pardee
- Glen Iron
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Glen Iron is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Iron
- Laurelton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Laurelton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelton
- Hartleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hartleton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
- Millmont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Forest, see our County-by-County Page for Forest.
Cemeteries Near Forest ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forest.
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 Forest - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Forest covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- The Union Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bellefonte City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46531 <2>
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lick Run Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Schencks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Trcziyulny Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Centre Hill Presbyterian Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Meyer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Benner Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Centre County Memorial Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh Lutheran Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh Lutheran Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Shiloh Lutheran Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of State College.
- The Shiloh Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Shiloh Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1885601 <2>
- Heckman Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (145 more) ...
- Lucas Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mountain Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Paradise Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
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 Forest in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Forest.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
- Zion
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Zion is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Axemann
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Axemann is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Axemann
- Mount Eagle
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mount Eagle is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Eagle
- Pleasant Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hublersburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hublersburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hublersburg
- Curtin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Curtin is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtin
- Bellefonte
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Centre Hall
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Farmers Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Farmers Mills is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmers Mills
- Milesburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wingate
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wingate is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingate
- Centre Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Centre Hill is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre Hill
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Dale Summit
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dale Summit is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale Summit
- Tusseyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Tusseyville is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusseyville
- Spring Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Forest. See our List of 1890's Communities around Forest.
Newspapers Published in Forest ...
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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forest.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forest, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Forest.
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 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 Forest:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Centre County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clearfield County
- Clinton County
- Huntingdon County
- Juniata County
- Lycoming County
- Mifflin County
- Snyder County
- Union 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> | 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- Forest) 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 Forest, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |