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 Shay (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 Shay. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Shay is located in Armstrong 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 Armstrong County: Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson & Westmoreland.
Below are the counties that are near Shay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shay:
- Armstrong County (The home county of Shay)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Tunnelville ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tunnelville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelville
- Whitesburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Whitesburg is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- Lenape Heights
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lenape Heights is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenape Heights
- Dog Town
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dog Town is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dog Town
- Ford City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Manorville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Manorville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manorville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Cochrans Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills
- Ford Cliff
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ford Cliff is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford Cliff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 347 people
- Blanco
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blanco is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanco
- Neale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- Rosston
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rosston is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- West Ford City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- West Ford City is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ford City
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Sligo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sligo is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
- Karns
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Karns is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
- Natrona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Natrona is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Brackenridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tarentum
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Culmerville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Culmerville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culmerville
- Russellton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Springdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Curtisville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Curtisville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtisville
- Cheswick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harwick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harwick is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
- Leechburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Leechburg is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leechburg
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Leasureville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Monroe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Dennys Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
- Fenelton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ekastown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Ekastown is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
- Great Belt
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Great Belt is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Belt
- Saxonburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kepples Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kepples Corners is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kepples Corners
- Saint Joe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Joe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joe
- Frazier Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
- Herman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Chicora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Lawsonham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lawsonham is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonham
- Phillipston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Phillipston is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- East Brady
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Catfish
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Catfish is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Fairmont City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- New Bethlehem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Leatherwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Leatherwood is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Rimersburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hawthorn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bela
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bela is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bela
- Piolett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Piolett is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piolett
- Brinkerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Brinkerton is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkerton
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Shelocta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- West Lebanon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Parkwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parkwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Willet
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Willet is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willet
- Saltsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beyer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Beyer is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beyer
- Creekside
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Creekside is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creekside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
- Clarksburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Chambersville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Chambersville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersville
- Davis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Davis is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Plumville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Plumville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 286 people
- Aultman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Aultman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Valier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Valier is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
- Langville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Langville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langville
- Timblin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Timblin is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timblin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Worthville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Worthville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Pansy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pansy is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Coolspring
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ohl
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ohl is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ohl
- Oliveburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oliveburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveburg
- Punxsutawney
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Summerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Summerville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 501 people
- Albion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Hyde Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Leechburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Leechburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leechburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Bagdad
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
- East Vandergrift
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Vandergrift is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vandergrift
- Population from the 2020 Census: 631 people
- Vandergrift
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oklahoma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oklahoma is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oklahoma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 739 people
- Weinel Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
- Avonmore
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Salina
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- North Washington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Lower Burrell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arnold
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shay, see our County-by-County Page for Shay.
Cemeteries Near Shay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shay.
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 Shay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Shotts Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Shaeffer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Holy Trinity Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ford City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ukrainian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oakland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- McDonalds Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Porter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Shellhammer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Shellhammer - Beck Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (252 more) ...
- Kittanning Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cowan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Highfield Lutheran 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 Shay in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shay.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Top
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Top is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Top
- Tunnelville ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tunnelville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelville
- Blanket Hill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blanket Hill is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanket Hill
- Brick Church
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Brick Church is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brick Church
- Whitesburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Whitesburg is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- Cochrans Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills
- Manorville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Manorville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manorville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Ford City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Neale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- Blanco
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blanco is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanco
- Greendale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Greendale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Rosston
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rosston is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Dime
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dime is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dime
- Girty
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Girty is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girty
- Elderton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shay. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shay.
Newspapers Published in Shay ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shay, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shay.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Shay:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Armstrong County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Butler County
- Clarion County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Westmoreland 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 Shay, 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- Shay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |