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 Fort Allen (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 Fort Allen. 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 Fort Allen ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Fort Allen: Ft. Allen
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 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.
Fort Allen is located in Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County: Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana & Somerset.
Below are the counties that are near Fort Allen. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fort Allen:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of Fort Allen)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- South Greensburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- South Greensburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greensburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,977 people
- Southwest Greensburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Southwest Greensburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest Greensburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,002 people
- Radebaugh
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Radebaugh is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radebaugh
- Greensburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Youngwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Grapeville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Grapeville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapeville
- Jeannette
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Arona is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Adamsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Adamsburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Penn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Penn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
- New Stanton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hunker
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- Buena Vista
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Boston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- White Oak
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- East McKeesport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- North Versailles
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pitcairn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wall
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wall is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 553 people
- Lincoln
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lincoln is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
- Versailles
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Versailles is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,452 people
- Monroeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,438 people
- McKeesport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- Edmon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Apollo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- North Apollo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Orchard Hills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Spring Church
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Olivet
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Olivet is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Leechburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cochrans Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills
- Freeport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Aladdin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- Neale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- McVille
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- McVille is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
- Butler County
- Monroe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- Laurelville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- Bear Rocks
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
- Everson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- Banning
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Banning is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banning
- Whitsett
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Whitsett is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitsett
- Fuller
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fuller is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Lynn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lynn is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Perryopolis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dawson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Dickerson Run
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Dickerson Run is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickerson Run
- White
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- White is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Arnold City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arnold City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- White
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Bow
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Blairsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Saltsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Robinson is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Black Lick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Jacksonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Palmertown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Aultman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Aultman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
- Josephine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Josephine is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josephine
- West Lebanon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- Laurel Mountain Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bakersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bakersville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Roytown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Roytown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roytown
- Jennerstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sipesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sipesville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipesville
- Jenners Crossroads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jenners Crossroads is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners Crossroads
- Lavansville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lavansville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavansville
- New Lexington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Lexington is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Jenners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Jenners is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners
- Husband
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Husband is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- Donora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Black Diamond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Monongahela
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Riverview
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Riverview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Charleroi
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dunlevy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Charleroi
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Charleroi is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Charleroi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,258 people
- Roscoe
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Roscoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Twilight
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Twilight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Ellsworth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ellsworth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- New Eagle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Allenport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fort Allen, see our County-by-County Page for Fort Allen.
Cemeteries Near Fort Allen ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fort Allen.
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 Fort Allen - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fort Allen covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- Temple Emanuel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Harrolds Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Westmoreland County Memorial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Milliron Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Youngwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Feightner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery (New)
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Errett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hillview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Clair Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Stone Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Holy Sacrament Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (408 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery (Old)
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Michael Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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 Fort Allen in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fort Allen.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fort Allen, with the one closest to Fort Allen listed first.
- Youngwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Greensburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Radebaugh
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Radebaugh is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radebaugh
- Foxtown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Foxtown is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxtown
- Grapeville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Grapeville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapeville
- Jeannette
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Stanton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Weavers Old Stand
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Weavers Old Stand is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weavers Old Stand
- Adamsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Adamsburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Madison
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hunker
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mutual
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mutual is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mutual
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Georges Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Georges Station is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Station
- Waltz Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Waltz Mill is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltz Mill
- Claridge
(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 Fort Allen. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fort Allen.
Newspapers Published in Fort Allen ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fort Allen.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fort Allen, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fort Allen.
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 Fort Allen:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Westmoreland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Butler County
- Fayette County
- Indiana County
- Somerset County
- Washington 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> | 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 Fort Allen, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Fort Allen) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |