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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 Smithdale (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 Smithdale. 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.

Smithdale is located in Allegheny 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 Allegheny County: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington & Westmoreland.

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

  • Allegheny County     (The home county of Smithdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithdale, with the one closest to Smithdale listed first.
    • Buena Vista
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Elizabeth
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lincoln
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lincoln is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
    • Sunny Side
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
    • Boston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Versailles
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Versailles is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,452 people
    • Clairton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • West Elizabeth
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Liberty
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Liberty is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,438 people
    • Mendelssohn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mendelssohn is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendelssohn
    • Coal Valley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Coal Valley is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Valley
    • Glassport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jefferson Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jefferson Hills is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,136 people
      • Jefferson Hills has also been known as:
      • Jefferson
  • Armstrong County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithdale, with the one closest to Smithdale listed first.
    • Edmon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Edmon is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
    • Apollo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Apollo is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apollo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,507 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Apollo <1>
    • North Apollo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Orchard Hills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
    • Leechburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Spring Church
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithdale, with the one closest to Smithdale listed first.
    • Arnold City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Arnold City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
    • Banning
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Banning is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banning
    • Lynnwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Lynnwood is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood
    • Belle Vernon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Brownstown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Brownstown is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownstown
    • Fairhope
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Fairhope is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhope
    • Whitsett
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Whitsett is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitsett
    • Fayette City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Fayette City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
    • Fuller
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Fuller is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
    • Lynn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Lynn is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
    • Perryopolis
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Redstone
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Redstone is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
    • Kenneth
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Kenneth is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithdale, with the one closest to Smithdale listed first.
    • Chartiers
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Chartiers is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers
    • Clarksville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rices Landing
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Stringtown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Stringtown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Cumberland Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Cumberland Village is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
    • Carmichaels
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Jefferson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
    • Fairdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Fairdale is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Nemacolin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Nemacolin is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
    • Lippincott
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lippincott is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lippincott
    • Ceylon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Ceylon is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
    • Khedive
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Khedive is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
    • West Union
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • West Union is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithdale, with the one closest to Smithdale listed first.
    • White
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • White is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Bow
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bow is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
    • Clarksburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithdale, with the one closest to Smithdale listed first.
    • Donora
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Donora is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donora
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,546 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Donora <1>
    • Black Diamond
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Black Diamond is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
    • Riverview
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Riverview is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Monongahela
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Charleroi
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • North Charleroi
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • North Charleroi is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Charleroi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,258 people
    • Ellsworth
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Ellsworth is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
    • New Eagle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Dunlevy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Roscoe
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Roscoe is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
    • Twilight
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Twilight is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Baidland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Baidland is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
    • Allenport
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smithdale, with the one closest to Smithdale listed first.
    • Sutersville
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Blackburn ‑ Historic
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Blackburn is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
    • West Newton
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Shaner
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Shaner is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaner
    • Herminie
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Webster
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Webster is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Wyano
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Wyano is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyano
    • Yukon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Rillton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Smithton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Madison
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Arona
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Arona is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arona
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
    • Monessen
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Smithdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithdale.

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 Smithdale - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Weaver & Waddell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • West Newton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Guffey Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Markle Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Quaker Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Round Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Gilmore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Vernon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Milbell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Wineland Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Mars Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Dravo Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (440 more) ...
    • St. Michaels Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • St. Domanick Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Memorial Park
      (5 miles [8 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.<4>

While we didn't find Smithdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smithdale.

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

  • Sutersville
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Blythedale
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Blythedale is located in Allegheny County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blythedale
  • West Newton
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Blackburn ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Blackburn is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
  • Scott Haven
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Scott Haven is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott Haven
  • Douglass
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Douglass is located in Allegheny County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglass
  • Dick
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Dick is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dick
  • Shaner
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Shaner is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaner
  • Buena Vista
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
  • Webster
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Webster is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Port Royal
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Port Royal is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Royal
  • Fitz Henry
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Fitz Henry is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitz Henry
  • Continue List   (21 more) ...
    • Yohoghany
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Yohoghany is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yohoghany
    • Guffey
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Guffey is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guffey
    • Hilldale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Hilldale is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale

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

Newspapers Published in Smithdale ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smithdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smithdale, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smithdale.

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 Smithdale:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Smithdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Smithdale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.