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 Spruce (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 Spruce. 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 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.
Spruce is located in Indiana 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 Indiana County: Armstrong, Cambria, Clearfield, Jefferson & Westmoreland.
Below are the counties that are near Spruce. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Spruce:
- Indiana County (The home county of Spruce)
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Uniontown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Uniontown is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Grisemore
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grisemore is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
- Cherry Tree
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cherry Tree is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Cookport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cookport is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookport
- Alverda
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Alverda is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverda
- Pine Flats
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Flats is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Flats
- Hillsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Commodore
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Purchase Line
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Purchase Line is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purchase Line
- Heilwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Heilwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heilwood
- Kenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kenwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Clymer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Barnards
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Barnards is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnards
- Atwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Atwood is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Bryan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bryan is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan
- Dayton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Elderton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rural Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Blanco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Blanco is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanco
- Yatesboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Yatesboro is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yatesboro
- Echo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Echo is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Eddyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Eddyville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
- McWilliams
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- McWilliams is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Muff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Muff is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muff
- Blair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Highland Fling
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Highland Fling is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Fling
- Altoona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eldorado
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eldorado is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Blue Knob
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Knob is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Knob
- Canan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Canan is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
- Cross Keys
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cross Keys is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys
- Bellwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Duncansville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Puzzletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Puzzletown is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puzzletown
- Tipton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Newry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hollidaysburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Garmantown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Barnesboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Northern Cambria
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Northern Cambria is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northern Cambria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,456 people
- Nicktown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Spangler
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Spangler is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- Hastings
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Elmora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elmora is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmora
- Saint Benedict
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Benedict is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Benedict
- Carrolltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Patton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Colver
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Sylvis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvis is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvis
- Burnside
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Burnside is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
- Westover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Westover is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
- New Washington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- New Washington is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- McPherron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- McPherron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
- Newburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Newburg is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- Mahaffey
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsontown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thompsontown is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsontown
- Mayes
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mayes is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayes
- Blain City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Blain City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
- Coalport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bower
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bower is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bower
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Winslow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Winslow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winslow
- Albion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Punxsutawney
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Valier
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Valier is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valier
- Oliveburg
(23 miles [37 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 north)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Sykesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wishaw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Timblin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Timblin is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timblin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Coolspring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Worthville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Worthville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Green Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Green Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- 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
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Tire Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tire Hill is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tire Hill
- Paint
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Paint is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Windber
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Seward
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Robb
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Robb is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robb
- New Florence
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bolivar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Fairfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
- Burrell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burrell is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrell
- Livermore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Livermore is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livermore
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Spruce, see our County-by-County Page for Spruce.
Cemeteries Near Spruce ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Spruce.
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 Spruce - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Spruce covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- McDowell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bethesda Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Nebo Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Grass Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Uniontown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- North Barnesboro Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- North End Protestant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. John The Baptist Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cookport Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Independent Country Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Elizabeths Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (228 more) ...
- Diamondville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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, Spruce had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Spruce, with the one closest to Spruce listed first.
- Grisemore
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Grisemore is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisemore
- Pine Flats
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Flats is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Flats
- West Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Cookport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cookport is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookport
- Kenwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kenwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenwood
- Hillsdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Nicktown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nicktown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicktown
- Purchase Line
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Purchase Line is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purchase Line
- Cush Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cush Creek is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cush Creek
- Hastings
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Penn Run
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Vetera
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Vetera is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vetera
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Sylvis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvis is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvis
- Patchinville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Patchinville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchinville
- Deckers Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Deckers Point is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deckers Point
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Spruce. See our List of 1890's Communities around Spruce.
Newspapers Published in Spruce ...
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 13 newspapers that have been published in the area around Spruce.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Spruce, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Spruce.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Spruce:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Indiana County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Blair County
- Cambria County
- Clearfield County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence County
- Somerset 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 Spruce, 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' (or 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- Spruce) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |