RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> Commonwealth of Pennsylvania >> Somerset County >> Sand Patch >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Sand Patch (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 Sand Patch. 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.

Sand Patch is located in Somerset 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 Somerset County: Allegany (MD), Garrett (MD), Bedford, Cambria, Fayette & Westmoreland.

Below are the counties that are near Sand Patch. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sand Patch:

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Sand Patch)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Glade City
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Glade City is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade City
    • Callimont
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Callimont is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callimont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 38 people
    • Wittenberg
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Wittenberg is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittenberg
    • Meyersdale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Hays Mill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Hays Mill is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hays Mill
    • West Meyersdale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • West Meyersdale is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Meyersdale
    • Boynton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Boynton is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Summit Mills
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Summit Mills is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
    • Pine Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Pine Hill is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
    • Althouse
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Althouse is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Althouse
    • Garrett
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Coal Run
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Coal Run is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Cooks Mills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Stringtown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Stringtown is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Hyndman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Kegg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
    • Beans Cove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Beans Cove is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Cove
    • Manns Choice
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Schellsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Rainsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Rainsburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
    • Charlesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Charlesville is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesville
    • New Paris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bedford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wolfsburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wolfsburg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfsburg
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Seven Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Markleysburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Champion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Indian Head
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • Ohiopyle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • White
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Laurel Mountain
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Donegal
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Laughlintown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Rector
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Stahlstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Allegany County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Mount Savage
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Zihlman
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Zihlman is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zihlman
    • Barrelville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Barrelville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrelville
    • Eckhart Mines
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Eckhart Mines is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckhart Mines
    • Frostburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Borden Shaft
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Borden Shaft is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Shaft
    • Midlothian
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Midlothian is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midlothian
    • Clarysville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarysville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
    • Ellerslie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Ellerslie is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerslie
    • Loarville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Loarville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loarville
    • Corriganville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Corriganville is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corriganville
    • Mount Savage Junction
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Savage Junction is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Savage Junction
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Avilton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
    • Grantsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bittinger
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Accident
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bloomington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Bloomington is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
    • Friendsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • McHenry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Swanton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kitzmiller
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Altamont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
  • Hampshire County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Donaldson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Donaldson is located in Hampshire County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
    • Ritters
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ritters is located in Hampshire County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritters
    • Springfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Okonoko
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Okonoko is located in Hampshire County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okonoko
    • Wapocomo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Wapocomo is located in Hampshire County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapocomo
  • Mineral County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.
    • Carpendale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
    • Ridgeley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Wiley Ford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Short Gap
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Short Gap is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Gap
    • Piedmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Fort Ashby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Keyser
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Keyser is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyser
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,863 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Keyser <1>
    • Windom ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Windom is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
    • Shaw
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Shaw is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
    • Headsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Headsville is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headsville
    • New Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Elk Garden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sand Patch, see our County-by-County Page for Sand Patch.

Cemeteries Near Sand Patch ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sand Patch.

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 Sand Patch - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sand Patch covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.

  • Reformed Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Zion Reformed Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Zion Reformed Cemetery
    • The Mt. Zion Reformed Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Hays Reformed Cemetery
    • Mt. Zion - Hays Cemetery
    • Mt. Zion United Church of Christ (UCC) Cemetery
  • Finzel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Garrett Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Emmanuel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Blocher Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Old Coney Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (216 more) ...
    • Merrbach Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Percy Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • St. Anns Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Sand Patch had a population of 115 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Sand Patch, with the one closest to Sand Patch listed first.

  • Wittenberg
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Wittenberg is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittenberg
  • Meyersdale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hays Mill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Hays Mill is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hays Mill
  • Salisbury Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Salisbury Junction is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury Junction
  • West Meyersdale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • West Meyersdale is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Meyersdale
  • Pocahontas
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Pocahontas is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
  • Philson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Philson is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philson
  • Shaw Mines
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Shaw Mines is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw Mines
  • Boynton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Boynton is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
  • Summit Mills
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Summit Mills is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
  • Shober
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Shober is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shober
  • Glencoe
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Glencoe is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Garrett
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Pine Hill is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
    • Mineral Spring
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Mineral Spring is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Spring

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sand Patch. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sand Patch.

Newspapers Published in Sand Patch ...

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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sand Patch.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sand Patch, 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 Sand Patch.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Sand Patch:

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 Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MIHP (for the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties). More information about the MHT and MIHP can be found on their website: mht.maryland.gov.
<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 Sand Patch, 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 from Point A (ie- Sand Patch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.