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 Gray (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 Gray. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Gray 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 Gray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gray:
- Blair County (The home county of Gray)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Grazierville
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Grazierville is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grazierville
- Tyrone Forge
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Tyrone Forge is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone Forge
- Tyrone
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Tipton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Culp
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Culp is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
- Bellwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Point View
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Point View is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point View
- Highland Fling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Highland Fling is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Fling
- Covedale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Covedale is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covedale
- Flowing Spring
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Flowing Spring is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowing Spring
- Franklin Forge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Franklin Forge is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Forge
- Springfield Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Altoona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bedford County
- King
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- King is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Lloydville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lloydville is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloydville
- Dean
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dean is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dean
- Fallentimber
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Buckhorn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Buckhorn is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Dysart
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dysart is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysart
- Flinton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ashville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Amsbry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Amsbry is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsbry
- Gallitzin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Spindley City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Spindley City is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spindley City
- Tunnelhill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tunnelhill is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelhill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 327 people
- Chest Springs
(19 miles [30.6 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
- Patton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Centre County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Sandy Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Marengo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marengo is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
- New Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- New Town is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Musser
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Musser is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musser
- Glass City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Glass City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
- Port Matilda
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stormstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stormstown is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stormstown
- Ramblewood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ramblewood is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramblewood
- South Philipsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
- Fairbrook
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fairbrook is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbrook
- North Philipsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
- Philipsburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Scotia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Scotia is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotia
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Ginter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ginter is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginter
- Houtzdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ramey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ramey is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 425 people
- Utahville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Utahville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utahville
- Osceola Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Parsonsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Parsonsville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parsonsville
- Brisbin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brisbin is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brisbin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 385 people
- Hegarty Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hegarty Crossroads is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hegarty Crossroads
- Ashland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Chester Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Chester Hill is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 820 people
- Belsena
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Belsena is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belsena
- Belsena has also been known as:
- Belsena Mills
- 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)
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Birmingham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Pennington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Huntingdon Furnace
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Huntingdon Furnace is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntingdon Furnace
- Water Street
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Water Street is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Street
- Dungarvin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
- Seven Stars
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Seven Stars is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Alexandria
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Neffs Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Neffs Mills is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neffs Mills
- McConnellstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- McConnellstown is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnellstown
- Donation
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Donation is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donation
- Hesston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Huntingdon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Indiana County
- Uniontown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Uniontown is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Mifflin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Allensville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Menno
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Menno is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menno
- Atkinson Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Atkinson Mills is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson Mills
- Belleville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kistler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kistler is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kistler
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- McVeytown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Newton Hamilton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Newton Hamilton is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Hamilton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
- Mattawana
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mattawana is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattawana
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gray, see our County-by-County Page for Gray.
Cemeteries Near Gray ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gray.
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 Gray - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Tyrone Grandview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Eastlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Gray Memorial Field
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Dysart Cemetery
- The Dysart Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysart Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2223636 <2>
- Charlottsville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Birmingham Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. John Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Branstetter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grazier Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Logan Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Beck Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (296 more) ...
- Baughman Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Williams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Antis Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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 Gray in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Gray.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Grazierville
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Grazierville is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grazierville
- Tyrone Forge
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Tyrone Forge is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone Forge
- Tyrone
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Tipton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Birmingham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Fostoria
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fostoria is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Arch Spring
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Arch Spring is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arch Spring
- Vail
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Vail is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vail
- Bellwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Culp
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Culp is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
- Union Furnace
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Union Furnace is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Furnace
- Pennington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Roots
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roots is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roots
- Spruce Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Warriors Mark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gray.
Newspapers Published in Gray ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gray.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gray, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gray.
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 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 Gray:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Blair County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bedford County
- Cambria County
- Centre County
- Clearfield County
- Huntingdon County
- Indiana County
- Mifflin 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 Gray, 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- Gray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |