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 Hastings (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 Hastings. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Hastings is located in Cambria 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 Cambria County: Bedford, Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Indiana, Somerset & Westmoreland.
Below are the counties that are near Hastings. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hastings:
- Cambria County (The home county of Hastings)
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Thomas Mills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Thomas Mills is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mills
- Saint Benedict
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Saint Benedict is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Benedict
- Patton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spangler
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Spangler is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- Barnesboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Northern Cambria
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Northern Cambria is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northern Cambria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,456 people
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Carrolltown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Elmora
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Elmora is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmora
- Garmantown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- Nicktown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Chest Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chest Springs is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chest Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 138 people
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Atwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Atwood is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Barnards
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Bedford County
- Pavia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pavia is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavia
- Blair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Highland Fling
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Highland Fling is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Fling
- Altoona
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bellwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Canan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Canan is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
- Eldorado
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Eldorado is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Cross Keys
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cross Keys is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
- Tipton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Duncansville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grazierville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Grazierville is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grazierville
- Blue Knob
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Blue Knob is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Knob
- Hollidaysburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Newry
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Centre County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- New Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Town is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sandy Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Glass City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Glass City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
- South Philipsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
- Philipsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Sylvis
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sylvis is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvis
- Westover
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Westover is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
- McPherron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- McPherron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
- Burnside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Burnside is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- New Washington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- New Washington is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Lyleville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lyleville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyleville
- Thompsontown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Thompsontown is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsontown
- Blain City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Blain City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
- Coalport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Irvona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rosebud
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rosebud is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Mayes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mayes is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayes
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Birmingham
(27 miles [43.5 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Water Street
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Water Street is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Street
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Uniontown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Uniontown is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Alverda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Alverda is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverda
- Cherry Tree
(8 miles [12.9 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
- Grisemore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Grisemore is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
- Hillsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Cookport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cookport is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookport
- Heilwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Heilwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilwood
- Pine Flats
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pine Flats is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Flats
- Glen Campbell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hooverhurst
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hooverhurst is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverhurst
- Commodore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Kenwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Kenwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Winslow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Winslow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winslow
- Albion
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Punxsutawney
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Valier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Valier is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
- Sykesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wishaw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Oliveburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oliveburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveburg
- Panic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Prescottville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Reynoldsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Tire Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Tire Hill is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tire Hill
- Paint
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Paint is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Windber
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Seward
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Robb
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robb is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robb
- New Florence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bolivar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- West Fairfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hastings, see our County-by-County Page for Hastings.
Cemeteries Near Hastings ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hastings.
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 Hastings - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hastings covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- St. Bernard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Barnesboro Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- North End Protestant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. John The Baptist Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Grass Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (249 more) ...
- Uniontown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- McDowell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Nebo Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hastings had a population of 1,070 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Hastings had a population of 1,145 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Hastings, with the one closest to Hastings listed first.
- Patton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Carrolltown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Nicktown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Saint Lawrence
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Lawrence is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lawrence
- Sylvis
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sylvis is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvis
- Westover
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Westover is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
- Vetera
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Vetera is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vetera
- Spruce
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Spruce is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce
- Patchinville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Patchinville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchinville
- Chest Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chest Springs is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chest Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 138 people
- Saint Augustine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Augustine is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Augustine
- Continue List (24 more) ...
- McPherron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- McPherron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
- Grisemore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Grisemore is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
- Five Points
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Five Points is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hastings. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hastings.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hastings ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hastings.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hastings. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hastings and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hastings.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4> of Hastings.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Hastings:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Cambria County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Bedford County
- Blair County
- Centre County
- Clearfield County
- Huntingdon County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence County
- Somerset County
- Westmoreland 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 Hastings, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Hastings) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |