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 Thompsontown (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 Thompsontown. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Thompsontown is located in Clearfield 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 Clearfield County: Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Indiana & Jefferson.
Below are the counties that are near Thompsontown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thompsontown:
- Clearfield County (The home county of Thompsontown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Mayes
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mayes is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayes
- Newburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- McPherron
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- McPherron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
- New Washington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- New Washington is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Cherry Corner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cherry Corner is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Corner
- Gazzam
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gazzam is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gazzam
- Bower
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bower is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bower
- Irvona
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Westover
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Westover is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
- Curry Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Curry Run is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry Run
- Blain City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blain City is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blain City
- Coalport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Highland Fling
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Fling is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Fling
- Bellwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tipton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Grazierville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grazierville is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grazierville
- Tyrone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Altoona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tyrone Forge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tyrone Forge is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone Forge
- Culp
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Culp is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culp
- Canan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Canan is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canan
- Eldorado
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eldorado is located in Blair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- 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
- Duncansville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Flinton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Thomas Mills is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mills
- Hastings
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Fallentimber
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Patton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Barnesboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Barnesboro is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesboro
- Garmantown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Garmantown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garmantown
- Northern Cambria
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Northern Cambria is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northern Cambria
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,456 people
- West Branch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- West Branch is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Branch
- Saint Benedict
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Saint Benedict is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Benedict
- Spangler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spangler is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- Carrolltown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Centre County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- New Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sandy Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Sandy Ridge is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Ridge
- South Philipsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
- Glass City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Glass City is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
- Philipsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- North Philipsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
- Casanova
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Casanova is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casanova
- Port Matilda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Brockport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Scattertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Scattertown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
- Huntingdon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Birmingham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Birmingham is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 87 people
- Pennington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
- Dungarvin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
- Huntingdon Furnace
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Huntingdon Furnace is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntingdon Furnace
- Seven Stars
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Seven Stars is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Stars
- Water Street
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Water Street is located in Huntingdon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Street
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Glen Campbell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Urey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Urey is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urey
- Hooverhurst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Hooverhurst is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooverhurst
- Uniontown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Uniontown is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Cherry Tree
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Tree is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Tree
- Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
- Johnsonburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Johnsonburg is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Hillsdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hillsdale is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Cookport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cookport is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cookport
- Purchase Line
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Purchase Line is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purchase Line
- Rossiter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Alverda
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Alverda is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverda
- Commodore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Winslow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Winslow is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winslow
- Sykesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Albion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Albion is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Punxsutawney
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wishaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wishaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishaw
- Panic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Panic is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panic
- Prescottville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
- Valier
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- 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
- Pancoast
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
- Reynoldsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Falls Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lawrence County
- Big Run
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Big Run is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thompsontown, see our County-by-County Page for Thompsontown.
Cemeteries Near Thompsontown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thompsontown.
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 Thompsontown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thompsontown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Zion Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dunkard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cross Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- LaJose Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Basil Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mahaffey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Spangle Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Watts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Shelton Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Williams Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (223 more) ...
- Weld Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Crossroads Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Snyder Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<3>
While we didn't find Thompsontown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Thompsontown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thompsontown, with the one closest to Thompsontown listed first.
- Mayes
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mayes is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayes
- Berwinsdale
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Berwinsdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwinsdale
- Five Points
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Five Points is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- McPherron
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- McPherron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McPherron
- Marron
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Marron is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marron
- Newburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Newburg is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 94 people
- New Washington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- New Washington is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Ansonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ansonville is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansonville
- Gazzam
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gazzam is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gazzam
- Westover
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Westover is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 374 people
- Bower
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bower is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bower
- Irvona
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Kerrmoor
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kerrmoor is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrmoor
- Ostend
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ostend is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ostend
- Curry Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Curry Run is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curry Run
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thompsontown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thompsontown.
Newspapers Published in Thompsontown ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thompsontown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thompsontown, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thompsontown.
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 Thompsontown:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Clearfield County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Blair County
- Cambria County
- Centre County
- Elk County
- Huntingdon County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Lawrence 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 Thompsontown, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Thompsontown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |