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 Shazen (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 Shazen. 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 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.
Shazen is located in Cambria 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 Cambria County: Bedford, Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Indiana, Somerset & Westmoreland.
Below are the counties that are near Shazen. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shazen:
- Cambria County (The home county of Shazen)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- Barnesboro
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Northern Cambria
(3 miles [4.8 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
- Hastings
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Garmantown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Spangler
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Spangler is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- Saint Benedict
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Saint Benedict is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Benedict
- Thomas Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas Mills is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mills
- Elmora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elmora is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmora
- Nicktown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Carrolltown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Patton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- Atwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Atwood is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Barnards
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Dayton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bryan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bryan is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan
- Rural Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Elderton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Yatesboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Yatesboro is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yatesboro
- Blair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- Highland Fling
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Fling is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Fling
- Altoona
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bellwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Canan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Canan is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
- Eldorado
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Eldorado is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Tipton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cross Keys
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cross Keys is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
- Duncansville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grazierville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Grazierville is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grazierville
- Blue Knob
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Knob is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Knob
- Hollidaysburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Puzzletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Puzzletown is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puzzletown
- Centre County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- New Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sandy Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- Glass City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glass City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
- South Philipsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- Sylvis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvis is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvis
- Westover
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Westover is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
- Burnside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Burnside is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- New Washington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- New Washington is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- McPherron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- McPherron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
- Newburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Newburg is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Thompsontown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsontown is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsontown
- Lyleville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lyleville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyleville
- Rosebud
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Rosebud is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Irvona
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mayes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mayes is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayes
- Blain City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Blain City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
- Huntingdon County
- Birmingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- Uniontown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Uniontown is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Cherry Tree
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cherry Tree is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Hillsdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Alverda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alverda is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverda
- Grisemore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grisemore is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
- Glen Campbell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hooverhurst
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hooverhurst is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverhurst
- Cookport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cookport is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookport
- Heilwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Heilwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilwood
- Commodore
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pine Flats
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Pine Flats is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Flats
- Purchase Line
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Purchase Line is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purchase Line
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- Winslow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Winslow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winslow
- Albion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Punxsutawney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Valier
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Valier is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
- Sykesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wishaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Oliveburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oliveburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveburg
- Panic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Prescottville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Reynoldsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Green Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Green Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- Timblin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Timblin is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timblin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- Seward
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Robb
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robb is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robb
- New Florence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bolivar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shazen, see our County-by-County Page for Shazen.
Cemeteries Near Shazen ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shazen.
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 Shazen - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shazen covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- North Barnesboro Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- North End Protestant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. John The Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Grass Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Bernard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Uniontown Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Patrick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- McDowell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nebo Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (240 more) ...
- Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Thompson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Thompson Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Hillsdale.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46469 <2>
- Bethesda Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
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 Shazen in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shazen.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shazen, with the one closest to Shazen listed first.
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Hastings
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvis is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvis
- Spruce
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Spruce is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spruce
- Patchinville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Patchinville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchinville
- Westover
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Westover is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
- Nicktown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Saint Lawrence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Saint Lawrence is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lawrence
- Burnside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Burnside is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Grisemore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grisemore is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
- Carrolltown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Patton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Five Points
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Five Points is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Cush Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cush Creek is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cush Creek
- Hillsdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shazen. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shazen.
Newspapers Published in Shazen ...
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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shazen.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shazen, 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 Shazen.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Shazen:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Cambria County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Blair County
- Centre County
- Clearfield County
- Huntingdon County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence 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 Shazen, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Shazen) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |