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 Pleasant Grove (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 Pleasant Grove. 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.
Name Variations for Pleasant Grove ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Pleasant Grove: Pleasant Grv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Pleasant Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Pleasant Grove.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Pleasant Grove 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 Pleasant Grove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pleasant Grove:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of Pleasant Grove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Rector
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Stahlstown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Laughlintown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ligonier
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel Mountain
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- 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
- Darlington
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Oak Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Donegal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Manito
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Manito is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manito
- Youngstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lycippus
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lycippus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lycippus
- Kecksburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Kecksburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kecksburg
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Buena Vista
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Pitcairn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wall is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 553 people
- Boston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- East McKeesport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- North Versailles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Versailles
(30 miles [48.3 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Edmon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Olivet
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Olivet is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Spring Church
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Orchard Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Elim
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Elim is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
- Ferndale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lilly
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lilly is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
- Southmont
(20 miles [32.2 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
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Ingleside
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Ingleside is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- Brownstown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cambria City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cambria City is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria City
- Dale
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Johnstown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Belmont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Belmont is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Conemaugh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Conemaugh is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conemaugh
- Daisytown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Daisytown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 290 people
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Champion
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Rocks
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
- Laurelville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- Seven Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- White
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- White is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Indian Head
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Head is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
- Everson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- Connellsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- South Connellsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dawson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sitka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sitka is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
- Dickerson Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dickerson Run is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickerson Run
- Dunbar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Robinson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Blairsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Black Lick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Palmertown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Josephine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Josephine is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josephine
- White
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Coral
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Armagh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Heshbon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Heshbon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heshbon
- Graceton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Graceton is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceton
- Claghorn ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Claghorn is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claghorn
- Clarksburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Laurel Mountain Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Roytown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Roytown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roytown
- Bakersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bakersville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakersville
- Jennerstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sipesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sipesville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sipesville
- Jenners Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Jenners Crossroads is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners Crossroads
- Jenners
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Jenners is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners
- Husband
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Husband is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Husband
- Lavansville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lavansville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavansville
- Gideon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gideon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gideon
- Jerome
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jerome is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Thomas Mill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Thomas Mill is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mill
- Somerset
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Washington County
- Donora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pleasant Grove, see our County-by-County Page for Pleasant Grove.
Cemeteries Near Pleasant Grove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pleasant Grove.
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 Pleasant Grove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pleasant Grove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- St. Michael's Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Michael's Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Michael's Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Rector.
- The St. Michael's Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Michael's of the Valley Episcopal Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2267682 <2>
- Cole Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Snowball Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ligonier Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ligonier Valley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Ligonier Valley Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Ligonier.
- The Ligonier Valley Cemetery has also been known as:
- Valley Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1921576 <2>
- Keltz Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Porch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Laughlintown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Penrod Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- St. James Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Nedrow Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (235 more) ...
- Green Mtn. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Nebo Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- St. Raymonds Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Pleasant Grove in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pleasant Grove.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pleasant Grove, with the one closest to Pleasant Grove listed first.
- Stahlstown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Laughlintown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ligonier
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bells
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bells is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells
- Darlington
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- McCance
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- McCance is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCance
- Donegal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Acme
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Osburn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Osburn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osburn
- Hillsview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hillsview is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsview
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Youngstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Manito
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Manito is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manito
- Hostetter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hostetter is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hostetter
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pleasant Grove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pleasant Grove.
Newspapers Published in Pleasant Grove ...
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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pleasant Grove.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pleasant Grove, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pleasant Grove.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Pleasant Grove:
- 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 Pleasant Grove, 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- Pleasant Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |