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 Riker (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 Riker. 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 and 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.
Riker is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Armstrong, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest & Indiana.
Below are the counties that are near Riker. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riker:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Riker)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Albion
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Punxsutawney
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Winslow
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Winslow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winslow
- Oliveburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oliveburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveburg
- Valier
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Valier is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
- Panic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Wishaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Sykesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Green Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Green Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- Fuller
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fuller is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Prescottville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Coolspring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Dayton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- McWilliams
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- McWilliams is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Barnards
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Eddyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Eddyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
- Bryan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bryan is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan
- Millville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Millville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Putneyville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Putneyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putneyville
- Atwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Atwood is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Echo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Echo is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Muff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Muff is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muff
- South Bethlehem
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- South Bethlehem is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bethlehem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
- Rural Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Garmantown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- Barnesboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Northern Cambria
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Northern Cambria is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northern Cambria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,456 people
- West Branch
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Hastings
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Spangler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Spangler is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- Nicktown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Saint Benedict
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Benedict is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Benedict
- Thomas Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas Mills is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mills
- Elmora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elmora is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmora
- Carrolltown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Patton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Hawthorn
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fairmont City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Crates
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Crates is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crates
- New Bethlehem
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Frogtown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Frogtown is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogtown
- Day
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Day is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day
- Brinkerton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Brinkerton is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkerton
- Waterson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Waterson is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterson
- Leatherwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Leatherwood is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Mechanicsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mechanicsville is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Piolett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Piolett is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piolett
- Strattanville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Troutville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Troutville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troutville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Stanley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stanley is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Helvetia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Helvetia is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helvetia
- Burnside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Burnside is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Mahaffey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Luthersburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bower
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bower is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bower
- Curry Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Curry Run is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry Run
- Sandy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- New Washington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Washington is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Laborde
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Laborde is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laborde
- DuBois
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Brockport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Shawmut
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shawmut is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Horton City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Horton City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton City
- Challenge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Challenge is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
- Lake City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Millstone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Millstone is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
- Kylers Corners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
- Scattertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Scattertown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
- Forest County
- Clarington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Rossiter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Johnsonburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Johnsonburg is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Marchand
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marchand is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marchand
- Trade City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Trade City is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade City
- Rochester Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rochester Mills is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester Mills
- Savan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Savan is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savan
- Urey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Urey is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urey
- Mottarns Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mottarns Mill is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottarns Mill
- Glen Campbell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hooverhurst
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hooverhurst is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverhurst
- Georgeville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Georgeville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
- Elkin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elkin is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkin
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riker, see our County-by-County Page for Riker.
Cemeteries Near Riker ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riker.
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 Riker - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riker covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Circle Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Oak Lawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ridgemont Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Punxsutawney.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1966411 <2>
- St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pearce Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bowers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- McClure Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Anita Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Adrian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (171 more) ...
- Perry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- White Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Round Top Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
While we didn't find Riker in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riker.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riker, with the one closest to Riker listed first.
- Bells Mills
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bells Mills is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Mills
- Punxsutawney
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Elbell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elbell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbell
- Adrian Mines
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Adrian Mines is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian Mines
- Winslow
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Winslow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winslow
- Big Run
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
- Walston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walston is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walston
- Horatio
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Horatio is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horatio
- Anita
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Anita is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anita
- Valier
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Valier is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
- Covode
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Covode is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covode
- Flora
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Flora is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flora
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hillman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hillman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillman
- Oliveburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oliveburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveburg
- Frostburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Frostburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frostburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riker. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riker.
Newspapers Published in Riker ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riker.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riker, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riker.
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 Riker:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Cambria County
- Clarion County
- Clearfield County
- Elk County
- Forest County
- Indiana County
- Lawrence 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 Riker, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Riker) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |