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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 Springs (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 Springs. 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 and 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.

Springs 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 Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Springs:

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Springs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Salisbury
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • West Salisbury
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • West Salisbury is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salisbury
    • Boynton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Boynton is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Coal Run
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Coal Run is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run
    • Summit Mills
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Summit Mills is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
    • Meyersdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • West Meyersdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • West Meyersdale is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Meyersdale
    • Listonburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Listonburg is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
    • Markleton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Casselman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Casselman is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • Garrett
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Addison
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Cooks Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Cooks Mills is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
    • Stringtown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Stringtown is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
    • Hyndman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Kegg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Kegg is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegg
    • Beans Cove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Beans Cove is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Cove
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Markleysburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Ohiopyle
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Seven Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Farmington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Indian Head
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Head is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
    • Mount Washington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Mount Washington is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Washington
    • Elliottsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Elliottsville is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
    • Champion
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • White
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • White is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • South Connellsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dunbar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Independence
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Independence is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Independence
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Donegal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Stahlstown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Allegany County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Midlothian
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Midlothian is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midlothian
    • Zihlman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Zihlman is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zihlman
    • Borden Shaft
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Borden Shaft is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Shaft
    • Frostburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Klondike
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Klondike is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Klondike
    • Woodland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodland is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
    • Mount Savage
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Eckhart Mines
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Eckhart Mines is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckhart Mines
    • Gilmore
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Lonaconing
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Midland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Midland is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
    • Nikep
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Nikep is located in Allegany County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nikep
  • Garrett County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Grantsville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Avilton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
    • Bittinger
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Accident
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Friendsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • McHenry
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bloomington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Bloomington is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomington
    • Swanton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Altamont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
    • Kitzmiller
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Deer Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Mountain Lake Park
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Mountain Lake Park is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,065 people
  • Hampshire County (WV)
    • Donaldson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Donaldson is located in Hampshire County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
  • Mineral County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Piedmont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Windom ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Windom is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
    • Carpendale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Carpendale is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpendale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 900 people
    • Ridgeley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Wiley Ford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Shaw
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Shaw is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
    • Keyser
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Short Gap
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Short Gap is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Gap
    • Elk Garden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Harrison
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Harrison is located in Mineral County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
    • New Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Fort Ashby
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Preston County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Springs, with the one closest to Springs listed first.
    • Hazelton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Orr
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Orr is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
    • Brandonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Brandonville is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
    • Clifton Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Clifton Mills is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
    • Morgans Glade
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Morgans Glade is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Glade
    • Lenox
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lenox is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
    • Bruceton Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Little Sandy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Little Sandy is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Sandy
    • Terra Alta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Rockville is located in Preston County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville

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

Cemeteries Near Springs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Springs.

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

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

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

  • Maple Glen Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Grantsville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Negro Mountain Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ridgley Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Merrbach Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Anns Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Beulah Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • St. John's English Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Dung Hill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Blocher Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (265 more) ...
    • Union Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Bittinger Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Reformed Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)

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.<2>

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

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

  • Grantsville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • West Salisbury
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • West Salisbury is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Salisbury
  • Boynton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Boynton is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
  • Savage
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Savage is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage
  • Shaw Mines
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Shaw Mines is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw Mines
  • Summit Mills
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Summit Mills is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Mills
  • New Germany
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • New Germany is located in Garrett County (MD)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Germany
  • Avilton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Avilton is located in Garrett County (MD)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avilton
  • Meyersdale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • West Meyersdale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • West Meyersdale is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Meyersdale
  • Salisbury Junction
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Salisbury Junction is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury Junction
  • Listonburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Listonburg is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Engle Mill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Engle Mill is located in Garrett County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Engle Mill
    • Bittinger
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Markleton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Springs ...

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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Springs.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Springs, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Springs.

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 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 Springs:

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>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 Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.