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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 Palestine (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 Palestine. 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 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.

Palestine is located in Clearfield 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 Clearfield County: Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Indiana & Jefferson.

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

  • Clearfield County     (The home county of Palestine)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Kylertown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Shiloh
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Shiloh is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Morrisdale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Wallaceton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Wallaceton is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallaceton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Keewaydin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
    • Woodland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • West Decatur
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • West Decatur is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Decatur
      • West Decatur has also been known as:
      • Blue Ball
      • Decatur
    • Barrett
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Barrett is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Chester Hill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Chester Hill is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 820 people
    • Ashland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ashland is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Clearfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Mount Joy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Mount Joy is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
  • Blair County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Tyrone
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Grazierville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Grazierville is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grazierville
    • Tyrone Forge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Tyrone Forge is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone Forge
    • Tipton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Bellwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Culp
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Culp is located in Blair County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
  • Cambria County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Lloydville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Lloydville is located in Cambria County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloydville
    • Flinton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fallentimber
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Cameron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Mix Run
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Mix Run is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mix Run
    • Wyside
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Wyside is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyside
    • Driftwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Huntley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Huntley is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
    • Cameron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Cameron is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
  • Centre County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Casanova
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Casanova is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casanova
    • North Philipsburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
    • Philipsburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Pine Glen
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Glen is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Glen
    • South Philipsburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
    • Glass City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Glass City is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
    • Moshannon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Moshannon is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moshannon
    • New Town
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • New Town is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Clarence
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Snow Shoe
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Sandy Ridge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
    • Pancake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Pancake is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancake
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Keating
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Keating is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keating
    • Cooks Run
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cooks Run is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Run
    • Bitumen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bitumen is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bitumen
    • Westport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Elk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Benezette
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Grant
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Grant is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
    • Caledonia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Caledonia is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Scattertown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Scattertown is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
    • Dents Run
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Dents Run is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
    • Byrnedale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Kylers Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
    • Brockport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Challenge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Challenge is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
    • Dagus Mines
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
  • Huntingdon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Palestine, with the one closest to Palestine listed first.
    • Dungarvin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
    • Pennington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
    • Birmingham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
    • Huntingdon Furnace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Huntingdon Furnace is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntingdon Furnace
    • Seven Stars
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Seven Stars is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
    • Neffs Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Neffs Mills is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neffs Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Palestine ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Palestine.

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

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

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

  • Center Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hunter Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • New Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Kylertown Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Congress Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Murray Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Emigh Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Agnes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Immanuel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Severin Old Log Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (143 more) ...

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

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

  • Kylertown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Shiloh
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Shiloh is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
  • Allport
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Bigler
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bigler is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigler
  • Wallaceton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Wallaceton is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallaceton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
  • Morrisdale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Winburne
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Winburne is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winburne
  • Frenchville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Frenchville is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchville
  • Lecontes Mills
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Woodland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Keewaydin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
  • West Decatur
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • West Decatur is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Decatur
    • West Decatur has also been known as:
    • Blue Ball
    • Decatur
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Graham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Graham is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
    • Loch Lomond Junction
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Loch Lomond Junction is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lomond Junction
    • Peale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Peale is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peale

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

Newspapers Published in Palestine ...

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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Palestine.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Palestine, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Palestine.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Palestine:

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