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 Norvelt (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 Norvelt. 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 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.
Norvelt 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 Norvelt. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Norvelt:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of Norvelt)
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Calumet
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- United
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- United is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for United
- Kecksburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
- Lycippus
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lycippus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycippus
- Youngwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Joy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Joy is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
- Mount Pleasant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Greensburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- South Greensburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Greensburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,977 people
- New Stanton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Greensburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alverton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alverton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverton
- Hunker
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Buena Vista
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Boston
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Versailles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Versailles is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,452 people
- Wall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wall is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 553 people
- White Oak
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln
(19 miles [30.6 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
- East McKeesport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,438 people
- North Versailles
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pitcairn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Riverton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Riverton is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton
- Sunny Side
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Edmon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Apollo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- North Apollo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Olivet
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Olivet is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Orchard Hills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Spring Church
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Leechburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Elim
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Elim is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
- Brownstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lilly
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lilly is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
- Southmont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Southmont is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
- Westmont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Westmont is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,625 people
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Laurelville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- Bear Rocks
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
- Everson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- White
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- White is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Champion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Head
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Head is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
- Dawson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Connellsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Banning
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Banning is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banning
- Dickerson Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dickerson Run is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickerson Run
- Vanderbilt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fuller
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fuller is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Bow
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- White
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Blairsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Robinson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Black Lick
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Palmertown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Saltsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jacksonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Josephine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Josephine is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josephine
- Coral
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Graceton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Graceton is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceton
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Bakersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bakersville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Laurel Mountain Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Roytown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Roytown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roytown
- Sipesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sipesville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipesville
- Lavansville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lavansville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavansville
- Jenners Crossroads
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Jenners Crossroads is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners Crossroads
- Jennerstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Husband
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Husband is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband
- New Lexington
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- New Lexington is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Jenners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jenners is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners
- New Centerville
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Draketown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Draketown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Donora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Allenport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Speers
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Speers is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
- Black Diamond
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Charleroi
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Dunlevy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Roscoe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Roscoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Twilight
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Twilight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- California
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elco is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Long Branch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Long Branch is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- Monongahela
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Norvelt, see our County-by-County Page for Norvelt.
Cemeteries Near Norvelt ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norvelt.
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 Norvelt - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Norvelt covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Polish Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Feightner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stone Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hillview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Shirey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Youngwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Green Lick Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Xavier Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (354 more) ...
- Milliron Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Clair Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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 Norvelt in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Norvelt.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Norvelt, with the one closest to Norvelt listed first.
- Calumet
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- United
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- United is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for United
- Southwest
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Southwest is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest
- Mammoth
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mammoth is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mammoth
- Mutual
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mutual is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mutual
- Kecksburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
- Trauger
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Trauger is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trauger
- Weavers Old Stand
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Weavers Old Stand is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weavers Old Stand
- Lycippus
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lycippus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycippus
- Pleasant Unity
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Pleasant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Laurelville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Youngwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Foxtown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Foxtown is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxtown
- Tarrs
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Norvelt. See our List of 1890's Communities around Norvelt.
Newspapers Published in Norvelt ...
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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norvelt.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Norvelt, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Norvelt.
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 Norvelt:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Westmoreland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Cambria County
- Fayette County
- Indiana County
- Somerset 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 Norvelt, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Norvelt) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |