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 Van Dykes (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 Van Dykes. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Van Dykes is located in Armstrong 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 Armstrong County: Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson & Westmoreland.
Below are the counties that are near Van Dykes. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Van Dykes:
- Armstrong County (The home county of Van Dykes)
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- Aladdin
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- McVille
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McVille is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
- Slate Lick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Slate Lick is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Lick
- Freeport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Neale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- Rosston
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rosston is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- West Ford City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Ford City is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ford City
- Ford City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ford Cliff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ford Cliff is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford Cliff
- Population from the 2020 Census: 347 people
- Leechburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dog Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dog Town is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dog Town
- Lenape Heights
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lenape Heights is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenape Heights
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- Sligo
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sligo is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
- Karns
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Karns is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karns
- Brackenridge
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Natrona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Natrona is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Tarentum
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Culmerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Culmerville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culmerville
- Curtisville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Curtisville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtisville
- Russellton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Harwick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Harwick is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
- Rural Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Springdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cheswick
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- Knob
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Knob is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Wallace City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wallace City is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace City
- Economy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Economy is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Economy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,022 people
- Goehring
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Goehring is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goehring
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- Monroe
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Leasureville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Dennys Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
- Ekastown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ekastown is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
- Saxonburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Great Belt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Great Belt is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Belt
- Fenelton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frazier Mill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
- Herman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Joe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Joe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joe
- Glade Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Glade Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Mills
- East Butler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clarion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- East Brady
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Phillipston
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Phillipston is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- Catfish
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Catfish is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catfish
- Lawsonham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lawsonham is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonham
- Bela
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bela is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bela
- Rimersburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Toby
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Toby is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toby
- Leatherwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Leatherwood is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- New Bethlehem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fairmont City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Piolett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Piolett is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piolett
- West Freedom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- West Freedom is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Freedom
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- West Lebanon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Parkwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Parkwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Shelocta
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Clarksburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Saltsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- White
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Willet
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Willet is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willet
- Aultman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Aultman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
- Bow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Jacksonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Beyer
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Beyer is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beyer
- Creekside
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Creekside is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creekside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- Bagdad
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
- West Leechburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- West Leechburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leechburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Weinel Crossroads
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
- Hyde Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Vandergrift
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- East Vandergrift is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vandergrift
- Population from the 2020 Census: 631 people
- Vandergrift
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oklahoma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Oklahoma is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oklahoma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 739 people
- Lower Burrell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Arnold
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Kensington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Washington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Parnassus
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Van Dykes, see our County-by-County Page for Van Dykes.
Cemeteries Near Van Dykes ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Van Dykes.
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 Van Dykes - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Van Dykes covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- Murphys Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Freeport Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Freeport Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Freeport.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #44888 <2>
- St. Marys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the north of Leechburg.
- The Forks - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Forks - Zion Lutheran Evangelical Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #629382 <2>
- Brookland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Catherine Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Catherines Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leechburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oakland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Airy Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (319 more) ...
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ukrainian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ford City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
While we didn't find Van Dykes in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Van Dykes.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Van Dykes, with the one closest to Van Dykes listed first.
- Aladdin
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- McVille
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McVille is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
- Freeport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Slate Lick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Slate Lick is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Lick
- Boggsville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Boggsville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggsville
- Monroe
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Garvers Ferry
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Garvers Ferry is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garvers Ferry
- Bagdad
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
- Neale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- North Buffalo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- North Buffalo is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Buffalo
- Leasureville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Sandy Lick
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sandy Lick is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Lick
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Sligo
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sligo is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sligo
- Rosston
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rosston is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- McHaddon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- McHaddon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McHaddon
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Van Dykes. See our List of 1890's Communities around Van Dykes.
Newspapers Published in Van Dykes ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Van Dykes.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Van Dykes, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Van Dykes.
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 Van Dykes:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Armstrong County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Beaver County
- Butler County
- Clarion County
- Indiana 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> | 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- Van Dykes) 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 Van Dykes, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |