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 Voorhis (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 Voorhis. 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.
Van Voorhis 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 Van Voorhis. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Van Voorhis:
- Washington County (The home county of Van Voorhis)
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Voorhis, with the one closest to Van Voorhis listed first.
- Sudan
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Sudan is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sudan
- Baidland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Baidland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
- North Charleroi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- North Charleroi is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Charleroi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,258 people
- New Eagle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Monongahela
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lover
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lover is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lover
- Charleroi
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Black Diamond
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Riverview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Riverview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Dunlevy
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Long Branch is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
- Population from the 2020 Census: 431 people
- Twilight
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Twilight is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twilight
- Population from the 2020 Census: 224 people
- Donora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Allegheny County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Voorhis, with the one closest to Van Voorhis listed first.
- Sunny Side
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
- Cochrans Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cochrans Mill is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mill
- Jefferson Hills
(9 miles [14.5 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
- Library
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Elizabeth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Elizabeth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Clairton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Coal Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Coal Valley is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Valley
- Mendelssohn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mendelssohn is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendelssohn
- Bethel Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Glassport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Buena Vista
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Lincoln
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Voorhis, with the one closest to Van Voorhis listed first.
- Belle Vernon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Newell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newell is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 492 people
- Fairhope
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Fairhope is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhope
- Lynnwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Lynnwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood
- Arnold City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Arnold City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
- Brownstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brownstown is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownstown
- Chamouni
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chamouni is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamouni
- Fayette City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fayette City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
- Kenneth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kenneth is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenneth
- Alicia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Alicia is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alicia
- Hiller
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- La Belle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- La Belle is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Belle
- Brownsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Voorhis, with the one closest to Van Voorhis listed first.
- Clarksville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Chartiers
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Chartiers is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartiers
- Rices Landing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jefferson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jefferson is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 249 people
- Lippincott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lippincott is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lippincott
- Carmichaels
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cumberland Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cumberland Village is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Stringtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Stringtown is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Fairdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Fairdale is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- West Union
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- West Union is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Khedive
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Khedive is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
- Nemacolin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Nemacolin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
- Ceylon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Ceylon is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Van Voorhis, with the one closest to Van Voorhis listed first.
- Monessen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Gibsonton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gibsonton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonton
- North Belle Vernon
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- 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
- Webster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Webster is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Sutersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Newton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Smithton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Blackburn ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blackburn is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Shaner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Shaner is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaner
- Wyano
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wyano is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyano
- Yukon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Herminie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rillton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Marshall County (WV)
- Dallas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dallas is located in Marshall County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas
- Monongalia County (WV)
- Bowlby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bowlby is located in Monongalia County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlby
- Ohio County (WV)
- Potomac
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Potomac is located in Ohio County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potomac
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Van Voorhis, see our County-by-County Page for Van Voorhis.
Cemeteries Near Van Voorhis ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Van Voorhis.
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 Voorhis - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Van Voorhis covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Van Voorhis, with the one closest to Van Voorhis listed first.
- Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Horseshoe Bend Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Charleroi Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Monongahela Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pigeon Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Clements Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grimes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Calvary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (447 more) ...
- St. Hyacinth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Holy Name Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ohar Sholom Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
While we didn't find Van Voorhis in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Van Voorhis.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Van Voorhis, with the one closest to Van Voorhis listed first.
- Baidland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Baidland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
- Lover
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lover is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lover
- Monongahela
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Eagle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Charleroi
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Black Diamond
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Manown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Manown is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manown
- Riverview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Riverview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Elkhorn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Elkhorn is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
- Courtney
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Courtney is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Courtney
- Kammerer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kammerer is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kammerer
- Vanceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Vanceville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanceville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Gibsonton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gibsonton is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonton
- Sunny Side
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sunny Side is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Side
- Bunola
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bunola is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunola
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Van Voorhis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Van Voorhis.
Newspapers Published in Van Voorhis ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Van Voorhis.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Van Voorhis, 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 Van Voorhis.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Van Voorhis:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegheny County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Westmoreland County
- Marshall County
- Monongalia County
- Ohio 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 Van Voorhis, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Van Voorhis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |