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 Reno (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 Reno. 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 doctors and 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.
Reno is located in Venango 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 Venango County: Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Mercer & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Reno. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Reno:
- Venango County (The home county of Reno)
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Woodland Heights
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Woodland Heights is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Heights
- Siverly
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Siverly is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siverly
- Oil City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Seneca
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Colonial Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Colonial Village is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
- Hasson Heights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hasson Heights is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasson Heights
- McClintock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- McClintock is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClintock
- Cranberry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cranberry is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranberry
- Franklin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rouseville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rynd Farm
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rynd Farm is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rynd Farm
- Uniontown
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Uniontown is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Parker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Fredericksburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fredericksburg is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
- Queenstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Queenstown is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queenstown
- Bradys Bend
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bradys Bend is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradys Bend
- Kaylor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kaylor is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaylor
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Cherry Valley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cherry Valley is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 62 people
- Eau Claire
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Murrinsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Murrinsville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murrinsville
- Ferris
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ferris is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferris
- Harrisville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bruin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bruin is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 489 people
- Forestville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Forestville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Bovard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bovard is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bovard
- Branchton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Branchton is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchton
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 186 people
- Petrolia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Petrolia is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrolia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
- Hooker
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hooker is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Venus
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Venus is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venus
- Lamartine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lamartine is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamartine
- Pine City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pine City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine City
- Fryburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Marble
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Beaver City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver City
- Iron City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Iron City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Knox
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Petersburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Elk City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elk City is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Jefferson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Monroe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Gresham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Gresham is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Black Ash
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Black Ash is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Ash
- Deckard
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Deckard is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deckard
- Fauncetown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Fauncetown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fauncetown
- Titusville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hydetown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hydetown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Cochranton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Townville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Townville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Frenchtown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Frenchtown is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchtown
- Guys Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tryonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Tryonville is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryonville
- Centerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Tionesta
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jamison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jamison is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison
- Fagundus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fagundus is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagundus
- Trunkeyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Trunkeyville is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trunkeyville
- Gilfoyle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Gilfoyle is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilfoyle
- Roses
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Roses is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roses
- Jefferson County
- Ella
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ella is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- North Sandy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- North Sandy is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sandy
- Kilgore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kilgore is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilgore
- Milledgeville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Milledgeville is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milledgeville
- New Lebanon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- New Lebanon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lebanon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Sandy Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Perrine Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Perrine Corners is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrine Corners
- Stoneboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- New Vernon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- New Vernon is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Vernon
- Enterprise
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Jackson Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Perrys Corners
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Perrys Corners is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrys Corners
- Clarks Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clarks Mills is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Mills
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Enterprise
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Enterprise is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Selkirk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Selkirk is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selkirk
- Tidioute
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sanford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sanford is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- East Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- East Branch is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Branch
- Cobham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cobham is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobham
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Reno, see our County-by-County Page for Reno.
Cemeteries Near Reno ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Reno.
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 Reno - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Reno covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Sunset Hill Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Grove Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Franklin Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Franklin.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44879 <2>
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Graham Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Catherines Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (162 more) ...
- Shaw Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lamey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Morrison Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Reno had a population of 620 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
- Seneca
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Siverly
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Siverly is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siverly
- Oil City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Astral
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Astral is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astral
- Cranberry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cranberry is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranberry
- McClintock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- McClintock is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClintock
- East Sandy
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- East Sandy is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sandy
- Rouseville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rynd Farm
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rynd Farm is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rynd Farm
- Foster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Foster is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Mason
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mason is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Sugarcreek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sugarcreek is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarcreek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,868 people
- Dempseytown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Dempseytown is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dempseytown
- Coal City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coal City is located in Venango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Reno. See our List of 1890's Communities around Reno.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Reno ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Reno.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Reno. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Reno and those printed in the larger area surrounding Reno.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3> of Reno.
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 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 Reno:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Venango County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Butler County
- Clarion County
- Crawford County
- Forest County
- Jefferson County
- Mercer County
- Warren 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Reno) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Reno, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |