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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 Speers (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 Speers. 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.

Speers is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland, Brooke (WV), Hancock (WV), Marshall (WV) & Ohio (WV).

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

  • Washington County     (The home county of Speers)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speers, with the one closest to Speers listed first.
    • Allenport
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Elco
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Elco is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
    • Roscoe
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Roscoe is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
    • Dunlevy
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Long Branch
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Long Branch is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
    • California
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Coal Center
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Stockdale
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Twilight
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Twilight is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
    • Charleroi
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Blainsburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Blainsburg is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsburg
    • West Brownsville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • West Brownsville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brownsville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
    • Daisytown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Allegheny County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speers, with the one closest to Speers listed first.
    • Sunny Side
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
    • Elizabeth
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • West Elizabeth
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Buena Vista
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Clairton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Cochrans Mill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Cochrans Mill is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mill
    • Jefferson Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • 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
    • Lincoln
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Lincoln is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
    • Boston
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Mendelssohn
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Mendelssohn is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendelssohn
    • Versailles
      (15 miles [24.1 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
    • Library
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Coal Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Coal Valley is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Valley
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speers, with the one closest to Speers listed first.
    • Chamouni
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Chamouni is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamouni
    • Kenneth
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Kenneth is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
    • Newell
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Newell is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 492 people
    • Belle Vernon
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Brownstown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Brownstown is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownstown
    • Fairhope
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairhope is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhope
    • Fayette City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Fayette City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
    • Redstone
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Redstone is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
    • Arnold City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Arnold City is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
    • Lynnwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lynnwood is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood
    • Brownsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Hiller
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Grindstone
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speers, with the one closest to Speers listed first.
    • Clarksville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rices Landing
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Stringtown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Stringtown is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Chartiers
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Chartiers is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers
    • Cumberland Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Cumberland Village is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
    • Carmichaels
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Fairdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Fairdale is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Nemacolin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Nemacolin is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
    • Jefferson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
    • Ceylon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Ceylon is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
    • Khedive
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Khedive is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
    • Lippincott
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lippincott is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lippincott
    • Fordyce
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Fordyce is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyce
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speers, with the one closest to Speers listed first.
    • Gibsonton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Gibsonton is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonton
    • North Belle Vernon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • North Belle Vernon is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belle Vernon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,842 people
    • Monessen
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Webster
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Webster is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Smithton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • West Newton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sutersville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Blackburn ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Blackburn is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
    • Wyano
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Wyano is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyano
    • Yukon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Shaner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Shaner is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaner
    • Herminie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Alverton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Alverton is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverton
  • Monongalia County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speers, with the one closest to Speers listed first.
    • Bowlby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Bowlby is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlby
    • Maidsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Maidsville is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maidsville
    • Baker Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
    • Canyon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Canyon is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
    • Cheat Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
    • Cassville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Cassville is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassville
    • Osage
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Osage is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
    • Star City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Star City is located in Monongalia County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
  • Preston County (WV)
    • Clifton Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Speers ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Speers.

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

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

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

  • Eastern Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Havely Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Gregg Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Auburn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Auburn Cemetery
    • The Mt. Auburn Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Fayette City Cemetery
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Charleroi Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Belle Vernon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Gibson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Grimes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • St. Hyacinth Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Grandview Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (453 more) ...

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 in 1895, Speers had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Speers had a population of 1,061 people.

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

  • Allenport
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Elco
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Elco is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
  • Roscoe
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Roscoe is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roscoe
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
  • Coal Center
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • California
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Chamouni
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Chamouni is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamouni
  • Kenneth
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Kenneth is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
  • Stockdale
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Fayette City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Fayette City is located in Fayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
  • Belle Vernon
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • West Brownsville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • West Brownsville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brownsville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
  • Charleroi
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Redstone
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Redstone is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
    • Gibsonton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Gibsonton is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonton
    • Brownsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Speers ...

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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Speers.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Speers, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Speers.

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 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 Speers:

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 Speers, 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- Speers) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.