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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 Kimmel (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 Kimmel. 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.

Kimmel is located in Somerset 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 Somerset County: Allegany (MD), Garrett (MD), Bedford, Cambria, Fayette & Westmoreland.

Below are the counties that are near Kimmel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kimmel:

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Kimmel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • New Centerville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • New Centerville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Centerville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
    • New Lexington
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • New Lexington is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
    • Lavansville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lavansville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavansville
    • Rockwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Milford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Milford is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
    • Bakersville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Bakersville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
    • Casselman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Casselman is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • Somerset
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Husband
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Husband is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband
    • Markleton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Roytown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Roytown is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roytown
    • Althouse
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Althouse is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Althouse
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • Kegg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
    • Hyndman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Stringtown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stringtown is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Cooks Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Schellsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Cambria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • Elim
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Elim is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
    • Ferndale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Ingleside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Ingleside is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
    • Belmont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Belmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Scalp Level
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Scalp Level is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalp Level
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 691 people
    • Southmont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Southmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
    • Westmont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Westmont is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,625 people
    • Brownstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Dale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dale is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,110 people
    • Geistown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Geistown is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geistown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,242 people
    • Johnstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lilly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lilly is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • Seven Springs
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Champion
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Indian Head
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • White
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Ohiopyle
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bear Rocks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
    • Laurelville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Laurelville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
    • South Connellsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Markleysburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Connellsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Dunbar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Everson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Everson is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
  • Indiana County
    • Robinson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Robinson is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • Donegal
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Stahlstown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Rector
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Laughlintown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Laurel Mountain
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Laurel Mountain is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 153 people
      • Laurel Mountain has also been known as:
      • Laurel Mountain Park
    • Ligonier
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Kecksburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
    • Mount Joy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Joy is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
    • Darlington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
    • Oak Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Oak Grove is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Iron Bridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Iron Bridge is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Bridge
    • Lycippus
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lycippus is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycippus
  • Allegany County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • Mount Savage
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Barrelville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrelville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrelville
    • Frostburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Midlothian
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Midlothian is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midlothian
    • Zihlman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Zihlman is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zihlman
    • Borden Shaft
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Borden Shaft is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Shaft
    • Eckhart Mines
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Eckhart Mines is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckhart Mines
    • Clarysville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarysville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
    • Ellerslie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ellerslie is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerslie
    • Klondike
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Klondike is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
    • Ocean
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ocean is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean
    • Woodland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodland is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • Grantsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Avilton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
    • Friendsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Accident
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Bittinger
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • McHenry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Preston County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.
    • Hazelton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Clifton Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
    • Brandonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Brandonville is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kimmel, see our County-by-County Page for Kimmel.

Cemeteries Near Kimmel ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kimmel.

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 Kimmel - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kimmel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.

  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Bakersville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Union Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Husband Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Weller Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Nedrow Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Imel Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Younkin Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Lichty Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Raymonds Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Nebo Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (209 more) ...
    • Hillview Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Highland Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Garrett Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)

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 Kimmel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Kimmel.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Kimmel, with the one closest to Kimmel listed first.

  • New Lexington
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • New Lexington is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
  • Gebhart
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Gebhart is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gebhart
  • Trent
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Trent is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent
  • Barronvale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Barronvale is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barronvale
  • Rockwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lavansville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lavansville is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavansville
  • Scullton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Scullton is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scullton
  • Kingwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Kingwood is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingwood
  • Casselman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Casselman is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
  • Shamrock
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Shamrock is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shamrock
  • Bakersville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Bakersville is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
  • Markleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Somerset
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Husband
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Husband is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband
    • Pinkerton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Pinkerton is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkerton

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Kimmel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kimmel.

Newspapers Published in Kimmel ...

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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kimmel.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kimmel, 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 Kimmel.

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 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 Kimmel:

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 Kimmel, 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 from Point A (ie- Kimmel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.