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 Independence (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 Independence. 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.
Independence is located in Beaver 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 Beaver County: Columbiana (OH), Allegheny, Butler, Lawrence, Washington & Hancock (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Independence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Independence:
- Beaver County (The home county of Independence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Gringo
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Gringo is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gringo
- Crestmont Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Crestmont Village is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestmont Village
- New Sheffield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Sheffield is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sheffield
- South Heights
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- South Heights is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 437 people
- Aliquippa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ambridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Harshaville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Harshaville is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harshaville
- Baden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Conway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Industry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shippingport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shippingport is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippingport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Frankfort Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Frankfort Springs is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Beaver
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Leetsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Moon
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Moon is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon
- Bell Acres
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bell Acres is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,373 people
- Edgeworth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Edgeworth is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgeworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,646 people
- Murdocksville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Murdocksville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murdocksville
- Borough of Glen Osborne
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Borough of Glen Osborne is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borough of Glen Osborne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 535 people
- Osborne
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Osborne is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborne
- Sewickley Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sewickley Heights is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewickley Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 802 people
- Sewickley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Haysville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Haysville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Coraopolis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Duff City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Duff City is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duff City
- Glenfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Glenfield is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Fernway
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fernway is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernway
- Fox Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fox Run is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Run
- Ogle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ogle is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogle
- Seven Fields
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Fields is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Fields
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,740 people
- Mars
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Zelienople
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Callery
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Evans City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Harmony
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Myoma
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Myoma is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myoma
- Valencia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Watters
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Watters is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watters
- Brownsdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brownsdale is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsdale
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Ellport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ellport is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,102 people
- Enon Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- New Beaver
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- New Beaver is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Beaver
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,419 people
- Wampum
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- East Moravia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- East Moravia is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Moravia
- Energy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Energy is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Energy
- S.N.P.J
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- S.N.P.J is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for S.N.P.J
- Estimated population in 2019: 19 people
- Altman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Altman is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altman
- Mount Jackson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Jackson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Jackson
- South New Castle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- South New Castle is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South New Castle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 659 people
- Mahoningtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mahoningtown is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mahoningtown
- Oakland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Rose Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rose Point is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Point
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Candor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Candor is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candor
- Midway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- MacDonald
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- MacDonald is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for MacDonald
- McDonald
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Dinsmore
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dinsmore is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dinsmore
- Paris
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Paris is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Hanlin Station
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hanlin Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanlin Station
- Burgettstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cross Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cross Creek is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Creek
- Cokeburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Cokeburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokeburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Pattersons Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Pattersons Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pattersons Mill
- Woodrow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Woodrow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodrow
- Canonsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Arnold
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- New Kensington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Parnassus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Columbiana County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- East End
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- East End is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East End
- East Liverpool
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Calcutta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- La Croft
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- La Croft is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Croft
- Walkers
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Walkers is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkers
- Glenmoor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Glenmoor is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenmoor
- Wellsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- East Carmel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Carmel is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Carmel
- Mill Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mill Rock is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Rock
- State Line ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- State Line is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
- Glasgow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Glasgow is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
- East Palestine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Salisbury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Salisbury is located in Columbiana County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salisbury
- Jefferson County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Toronto
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Empire
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Empire is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Stratton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Knoxville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Knoxville is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Alikanna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Alikanna is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alikanna
- Island Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Island Creek is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Creek
- Cream City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Cream City is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cream City
- Irondale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Irondale is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 355 people
- New Somerset
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- New Somerset is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Somerset
- Steubenville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Osage
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Osage is located in Jefferson County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Mingo Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mahoning County (OH)
- New Middletown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brooke County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Follansbee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hooverson Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hooverson Heights is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverson Heights
- Lower Ferry ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Ferry is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Ferry
- Middle Ferry ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Middle Ferry is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Ferry
- Shank Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Shank Town is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shank Town
- Dutch Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dutch Town is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Town
- Wellsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethany
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Beech Bottom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Beech Bottom is located in Brooke County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Bottom
- Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
- Hancock County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Lawrenceville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lawrenceville is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceville
- Chester
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Fairhaven
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Fairhaven is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven
- New Manchester
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- New Manchester is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Manchester
- Newell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Zalia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Zalia is located in Hancock County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zalia
- New Cumberland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Weirton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Independence, see our County-by-County Page for Independence.
Cemeteries Near Independence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Independence.
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 Independence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Independence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Veazey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- New Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elijah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- John Anderson Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shousetown Glenwillard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Economy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Peter and Paul Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (476 more) ...
- Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hanover Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hopewell - Hebron Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Independence in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Independence.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- New Sheffield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Sheffield is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sheffield
- Aliquippa
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairoaks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fairoaks is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairoaks
- Woodlawn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Woodlawn is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
- Holt
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Holt is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holt
- Harshaville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Harshaville is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harshaville
- Clinton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Moon
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Moon is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moon
- Carnot
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Carnot is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnot
- Shields
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Shields is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shields
- Leetsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- McCleary
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- McCleary is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCleary
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Murdocksville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Murdocksville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murdocksville
- Stoops Ferry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stoops Ferry is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoops Ferry
- Edgeworth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Edgeworth is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgeworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,646 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Independence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Independence.
Newspapers Published in Independence ...
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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Independence.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Independence, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Independence.
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 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 Independence:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Beaver County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Butler County
- Lawrence County
- Washington County
- Westmoreland County
- Columbiana County
- Jefferson County
- Mahoning County
- Brooke County
- Hancock 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 Independence, 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- Independence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |