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 Salem (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 Salem. 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 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.
Salem 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 Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Clearfield County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Luthersburg
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sandy
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sandy is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Helvetia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Helvetia is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helvetia
- Stanley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stanley is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- DuBois
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rockton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rockton is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Troutville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Troutville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troutville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Laborde
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Laborde is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laborde
- Treasure Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Treasure Lake is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Treasure Lake
- Grampian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Winterburn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
- Curry Run
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Curry Run is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry Run
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- McWilliams
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- McWilliams is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Dayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eddyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Eddyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
- Millville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Millville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Barnards
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Garmantown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- Flinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Barnesboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Hastings
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Northern Cambria
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Northern Cambria is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northern Cambria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,456 people
- Thomas Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Thomas Mills is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mills
- West Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Spangler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Spangler is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- Fallentimber
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Patton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Saint Benedict
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Saint Benedict is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Benedict
- Centre County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Philipsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- New Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Town is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- South Philipsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
- North Philipsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
- Glass City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glass City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Crates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Crates is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crates
- Day
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Day is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day
- Hawthorn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Waterson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Waterson is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterson
- Cooksburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmont City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Frogtown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Frogtown is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogtown
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Brockport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Shawmut
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Shawmut is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Challenge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Challenge is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
- Horton City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Horton City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton City
- Scattertown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Scattertown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
- Kylers Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
- Byrnedale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dagus Mines
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Caledonia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Lake City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ridgway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hallton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hallton is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallton
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Clarington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Redclyffe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Redclyffe is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redclyffe
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Johnsonburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Johnsonburg is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Rossiter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Urey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Urey is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urey
- Glen Campbell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hooverhurst
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hooverhurst is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverhurst
- Marchand
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Marchand is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marchand
- Rochester Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rochester Mills is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester Mills
- Savan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Savan is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savan
- Trade City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Trade City is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trade City
- Hillsdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Mottarns Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mottarns Mill is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottarns Mill
- Cherry Tree
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cherry Tree is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Sykesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Falls Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pancoast
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
- Prescottville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Red Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Red Mill is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mill
- Reynoldsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sandy Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sandy Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Valley
- Wishaw
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Panic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Crenshaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Allens Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Allens Mills is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
- Fuller
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Fuller is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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 Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Salem UMC Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem UMC Cemetery
- The Salem UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
- New Salem Cemetery
- Salem Methodist Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46287 <2>
- Salem Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rumbarger Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Catherines Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Morningside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Soldier Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Holy Trinity Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shaffer Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dressler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (164 more) ...
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Prospect Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Marys Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Marys Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Reynoldsville.
- The St. Marys Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1111986 <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 Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Luthersburg
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Stanley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stanley is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Helvetia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Helvetia is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helvetia
- DuBois
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sykesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Troutville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Troutville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troutville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
- Rockton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rockton is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Narrows Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Narrows Creek is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narrows Creek
- Falls Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pancoast
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
- Rathmel
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rathmel is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathmel
- Cramer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cramer is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cramer
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sabula
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sabula is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabula
- Prescottville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Harveys Run
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Harveys Run is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harveys Run
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.
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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Clearfield County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Cambria County
- Centre County
- Clarion County
- Elk County
- Forest County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson 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 Salem, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |