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 Irwin (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 Irwin. 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 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.
Irwin 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 Irwin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Irwin:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of Irwin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Shafton
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Shafton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shafton
- North Irwin
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- North Irwin is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Irwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Westmoreland City
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Westmoreland City is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmoreland City
- Larimer
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Larimer is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larimer
- Manor
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Manor is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,322 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Manor <1>
- Adamsburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adamsburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Penn
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Penn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
- Harrison City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rillton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Claridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Herminie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Arona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Arona is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arona
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- East McKeesport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Versailles
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pitcairn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wall
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wall is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 553 people
- Buena Vista
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Boston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Versailles
(6 miles [9.7 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
- White Oak
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Monroeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmerding
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln
(7 miles [11.3 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
- Riverton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Riverton is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Edmon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Apollo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Orchard Hills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- North Apollo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Leechburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Spring Church
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Freeport
(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
- Aladdin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- Cochrans Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills
- McVille
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- McVille is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
- Neale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Ekastown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ekastown is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
- Monroe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Leasureville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Valencia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saxonburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Glade Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Glade Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Mills
- Frazier Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
- Mars
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Banning
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Banning is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banning
- Whitsett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Whitsett is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitsett
- Arnold City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arnold City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
- Lynnwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lynnwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood
- Fuller
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Fuller is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Lynn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Lynn is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Perryopolis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Belle Vernon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brownstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brownstown is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownstown
- Fairhope
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairhope is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhope
- Everson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- Fayette City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- 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 Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Clarksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rices Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- White
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Bow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Clarksburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Blairsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Saltsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- West Lebanon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Black Lick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Aultman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Aultman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
- Palmertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Josephine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Josephine is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josephine
- Parkwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Parkwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Donora
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Black Diamond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Ellsworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ellsworth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Monongahela
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Riverview
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Riverview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- New Eagle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Baidland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Baidland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
- Charleroi
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Charleroi
(16 miles [25.7 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
- Finleyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gastonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gastonville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonville
- Sudan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sudan is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sudan
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Irwin, see our County-by-County Page for Irwin.
Cemeteries Near Irwin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Irwin.
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 Irwin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Irwin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- The Union Cemetery has also been known as:
- Irwin Union Cemetery
- Brush Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Brush Creek Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Adamsburg.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44464 <2>
- St. Michael Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Old Brush Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dravo Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Old Quaker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Old Mars Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery (New)
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Penn Lincoln Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pennsylvania Lincoln Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Patrick's Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (434 more) ...
- Wineland Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Madison Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jeannette Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Irwin had a population of 2,428 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Irwin had a population of 3,716 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Irwin, with the one closest to Irwin listed first.
- Shafton
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Shafton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shafton
- Oakville
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Oakville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Circleville
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Circleville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Circleville
- Adamsburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adamsburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 161 people
- Ardara
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ardara is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardara
- Stewartsville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Stewartsville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville
- Rillton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Harrison City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Guffey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Guffey is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guffey
- Shaner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shaner is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaner
- Yohoghany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Yohoghany is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yohoghany
- Jeannette
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Claridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Emblem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Emblem is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emblem
- Greenock
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Greenock is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenock
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Irwin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Irwin.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Irwin ...
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 90 newspapers that have been published in the area around Irwin.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Irwin. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Irwin and those printed in the larger area surrounding Irwin.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4> of Irwin.
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 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 Irwin:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Westmoreland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Butler County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Indiana 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 Irwin, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Irwin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |