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 Houston (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 Houston. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Houston is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland, Brooke (WV), Hancock (WV), Marshall (WV) & Ohio (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Houston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Houston:
- Washington County (The home county of Houston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Strabane
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Canonsburg
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- McGovern
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- McGovern is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGovern
- Cokeburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cokeburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokeburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Meadow Lands
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Arden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Gilkeson
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gilkeson is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilkeson
- East Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- East Washington is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,801 people
- Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Wolfdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wolfdale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfdale
- Laboratory
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Laboratory is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laboratory
- Eighty Four
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Morgan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Morgan is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Upper Saint Clair
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Noblestown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Noblestown is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noblestown
- Sturgeon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bridgeville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Library
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Oakdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bethel Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Essen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Essen is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essen
- Brightwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brightwood is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brightwood
- Heidelberg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Heidelberg is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heidelberg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,199 people
- Mount Lebanon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Gringo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Gringo is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gringo
- Comettsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Comettsburg is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comettsburg
- South Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- South Heights is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 437 people
- Frankfort Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Frankfort Springs is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Harshaville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Harshaville is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harshaville
- Ambridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Crestmont Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Crestmont Village is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestmont Village
- New Sheffield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- New Sheffield is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sheffield
- Kendall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kendall is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Aliquippa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Baden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Economy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Economy is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,022 people
- Butler County
- Fernway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fernway is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernway
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Belle Vernon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- La Belle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- La Belle is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Belle
- Newell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Newell is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 492 people
- East Millsboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- East Millsboro is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Millsboro
- Fairhope
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairhope is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhope
- Luzerne
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Luzerne is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luzerne
- Lynnwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lynnwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood
- Alicia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Alicia is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
- Arnold City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Arnold City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
- Brownstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brownstown is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownstown
- Chamouni
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Chamouni is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamouni
- Fayette City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fayette City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- West Union
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- West Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Swarts
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Swarts is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swarts
- Chartiers
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chartiers is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers
- Clarksville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lippincott
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lippincott is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lippincott
- Jefferson
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jefferson is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Rices Landing
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Morrisville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Morrisville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville
- Waynesburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Rogersville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rogersville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Rutan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rutan is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutan
- Khedive
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Khedive is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Monessen
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Webster
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Gibsonton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gibsonton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonton
- North Belle Vernon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Belle Vernon is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belle Vernon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,842 people
- Sutersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Blackburn ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Blackburn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Shaner
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Shaner is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaner
- West Newton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Herminie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Rillton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Smithton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Trafford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Belmont County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Martins Ferry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bridgeport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Brilliant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Brilliant is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brilliant
- Deandale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Deandale is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deandale
- Mingo Junction
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Georges Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Georges Run is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Run
- Gould
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Gould is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Steubenville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Alikanna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Alikanna is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alikanna
- New Alexandria
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- New Alexandria is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Alexandria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Toronto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rayland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Valley Glen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Valley Glen is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Glen
- Highland City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Highland City is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland City
- Brooke County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Bethany
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hooverson Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hooverson Heights is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverson Heights
- Dutch Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dutch Town is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Town
- Follansbee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lower Ferry ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lower Ferry is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Ferry
- Middle Ferry ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Middle Ferry is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Ferry
- Shank Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Shank Town is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shank Town
- Wellsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Beech Bottom
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Beech Bottom is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Bottom
- Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
- Windsor Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Windsor Heights is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 375 people
- Hancock County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Weirton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Zalia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Zalia is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zalia
- New Cumberland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- New Manchester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Manchester is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Manchester
- Fairhaven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fairhaven is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven
- Lawrenceville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrenceville is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceville
- Marshall County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Dallas
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dallas is located in Marshall County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Calis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Calis is located in Marshall County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calis
- Allendale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Allendale is located in Marshall County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
- Rocklick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rocklick is located in Marshall County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocklick
- Sherrard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sherrard is located in Marshall County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherrard
- Ohio County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- Potomac
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Potomac is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potomac
- West Liberty
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Point Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Point Mills is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Mills
- Valley Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clinton is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Triadelphia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clearview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Clearview is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 481 people
- Echo Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Echo Point is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo Point
- Pleasant Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Bethlehem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bethlehem is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,298 people
- Wheeling
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Houston, see our County-by-County Page for Houston.
Cemeteries Near Houston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Houston.
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 Houston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Houston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Payne Place Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Oak Spring Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Chartiers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Chartiers Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers Hill Cemetery
- The Chartiers Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Chartiers Hill Presbyterian Cemetery
- Hill Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44570 <2>
- Polish Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Patrick Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Patrick Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Canonsburg.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46220 <2>
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Covanter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- The Old Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (449 more) ...
- Beth Israel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Forest Lawn Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Trinity Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Houston had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Houston had a population of 1,233 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Houston, with the one closest to Houston listed first.
- McGovern
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- McGovern is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGovern
- Canonsburg
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Meadow Lands
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Van Emman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Van Emman is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Emman
- Morganza
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Morganza is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganza
- Arden
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Venice
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Venice is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venice
- Gretna
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Gretna is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
- Oak Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Washington
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Zediker
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Zediker is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zediker
- Wylandville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wylandville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylandville
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Gilkeson
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gilkeson is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilkeson
- Cecil
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Laboratory
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Laboratory is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laboratory
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Houston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Houston.
Newspapers Published in Houston ...
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 63 newspapers that have been published in the area around Houston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Houston, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Houston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Houston:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Beaver County
- Butler County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Westmoreland County
- Belmont County
- Jefferson County
- Brooke County
- Hancock County
- Marshall County
- Ohio 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 Houston, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Houston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |