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 Rachelwood (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 Rachelwood. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Rachelwood 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 Rachelwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rachelwood:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of Rachelwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- West Fairfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
- Oak Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- New Florence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Robb
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Robb is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robb
- Bolivar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Laughlintown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- 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
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Seward
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rector
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Darlington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Derry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Derry is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,495 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Derry <1>
- Burrell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burrell is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrell
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Edmon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Olivet
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Olivet is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Spring Church
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elderton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Pavia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pavia is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavia
- Pleasantville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pleasantville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 205 people
- New Paris
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kegg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kegg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
- Schellsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blair County
- Blue Knob
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Blue Knob is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Knob
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Brownstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Elim
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Elim is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
- Lilly
(8 miles [12.9 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
(8 miles [12.9 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
(8 miles [12.9 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
- Cambria City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cambria City is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria City
- Ferndale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Johnstown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Belmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Belmont is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Conemaugh
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Conemaugh is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conemaugh
- Daisytown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Daisytown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 290 people
- Dale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dale is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,110 people
- Lorain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lorain is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 680 people
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Champion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Seven Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Rocks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
- Laurelville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- White
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- White is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Indian Head
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Head is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
- Everson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Robinson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Robinson is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Armagh
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Heshbon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Heshbon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heshbon
- Blairsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Claghorn ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Claghorn is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claghorn
- Dilltown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Palmertown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Coral
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Josephine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Josephine is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josephine
- Wehrum
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wehrum is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wehrum
- Black Lick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Graceton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Graceton is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceton
- Littletown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Littletown is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littletown
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Thomas Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas Mill is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mill
- Laurel Mountain Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Jerome
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jerome is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Tire Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Tire Hill is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tire Hill
- Jennerstown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Davidsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jenners Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jenners Crossroads is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners Crossroads
- Jenners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Jenners is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners
- Benson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Benson is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Hollsopple
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blough
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blough is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blough
- Paint
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Paint is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Hooversville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hooversville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooversville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 589 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rachelwood, see our County-by-County Page for Rachelwood.
Cemeteries Near Rachelwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rachelwood.
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 Rachelwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rachelwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Green Mtn. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Penrod Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wertz - Miltenberger Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Legat Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Laughlintown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Old Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Westview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ligonier Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- 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>
- St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Weaver Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Berkley Hills Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- St. Casmirs Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (208 more) ...
- St. Francis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Immaculate Conception Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculate Conception Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Immaculate Conception Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Johnstown.
- The Immaculate Conception Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Mary's Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46157 <2>
- St. Columbas Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Columbas Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Columbas Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Johnstown.
- The St. Columbas Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lower Yoda Cemetery
- Lower Yoder Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46014 <2>
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 Rachelwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rachelwood.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rachelwood, with the one closest to Rachelwood listed first.
- Hillsview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hillsview is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsview
- West Fairfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
- Lockport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lockport is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockport
- New Florence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Laughlintown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glessner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glessner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glessner
- Bolivar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ligonier
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lilly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lilly is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
- Bells
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bells is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells
- Jennerstown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Davidsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Ferndale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Johnstown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Seward
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rachelwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rachelwood.
Newspapers Published in Rachelwood ...
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 Rachelwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rachelwood, 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 Rachelwood.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Rachelwood:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Westmoreland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Bedford County
- Blair County
- Cambria County
- Fayette County
- Indiana County
- Somerset 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 Rachelwood, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Rachelwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |