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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 Walter Chapel (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 Walter Chapel. 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 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.

Walter Chapel is located in Allegheny 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 Allegheny County: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington & Westmoreland.

Below are the counties that are near Walter Chapel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Walter Chapel:

  • Allegheny County     (The home county of Walter Chapel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • Rural Ridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Russellton
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Harwick
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Harwick is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
    • Indianola
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Tarentum
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Curtisville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Curtisville is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtisville
    • Cheswick
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Springdale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brackenridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Culmerville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Culmerville is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culmerville
    • Oakmont
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Natrona
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Natrona is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Fox Chapel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Armstrong County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • Freeport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Aladdin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
    • Leechburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Apollo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Apollo is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apollo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,507 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Apollo <1>
    • North Apollo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Orchard Hills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
    • McVille
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • McVille is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
    • Slate Lick
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Slate Lick is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Lick
    • Neale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Neale is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
    • Edmon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Edmon is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
    • Spring Church
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Rosston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Rosston is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
    • Shadyside Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Shadyside Village is located in Armstrong County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadyside Village
      • Shadyside Village has also been known as:
      • Buffalo Creek
      • Yellow Dog Village
  • Beaver County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • Economy
      (19 miles [30.6 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
    • Wallace City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Wallace City is located in Beaver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace City
    • Ambridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Knob
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Knob is located in Beaver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
    • Baden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • South Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • South Heights is located in Beaver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 437 people
    • Aliquippa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Conway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Crestmont Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Crestmont Village is located in Beaver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestmont Village
    • Freedom
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Gringo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Gringo is located in Beaver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gringo
    • New Sheffield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • New Sheffield is located in Beaver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sheffield
    • East Rochester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • East Rochester is located in Beaver County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rochester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
  • Butler County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • Ekastown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Ekastown is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekastown
    • Monroe
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Monroe is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
    • Glade Mills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Glade Mills is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Mills
    • Valencia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Frazier Mill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
    • Saxonburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Leasureville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Leasureville is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
    • Mars
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mars is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mars
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,608 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mars <1>
    • Seven Fields
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Seven Fields is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Fields
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,740 people
    • Dennys Mills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
    • Nixon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Nixon is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
    • Brownsdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Brownsdale is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsdale
    • Myoma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Myoma is located in Butler County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myoma
  • Clarion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • East Brady
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Phillipston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Phillipston is located in Clarion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
  • Indiana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • White
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • White is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
    • Clarksburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Saltsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • West Lebanon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
    • Bow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bow is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
    • Parkwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Parkwood is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Jacksonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
    • Shelocta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Aultman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Aultman is located in Indiana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
  • Lawrence County
    • Ellport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ellport is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,102 people
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • Ellsworth
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Ellsworth is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
    • Gastonville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Gastonville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonville
    • Finleyville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • McMurray
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Thompsonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Thompsonville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
    • MacDonald
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • MacDonald is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for MacDonald
    • McDonald
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Black Diamond
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Black Diamond is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
    • Monongahela
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • New Eagle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Riverview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Riverview is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Baidland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Baidland is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
    • Candor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Candor is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candor
  • Westmoreland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walter Chapel, with the one closest to Walter Chapel listed first.
    • Arnold
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Arnold is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,790 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arnold <1>
    • New Kensington
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Parnassus
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
    • Lower Burrell
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Weinel Crossroads
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
    • Bagdad
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
    • West Leechburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • West Leechburg is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leechburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
    • Hyde Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • North Washington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
    • Vandergrift
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Franklin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Franklin is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
    • East Vandergrift
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • East Vandergrift is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vandergrift
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 631 people
    • Murrysville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Walter Chapel ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Walter Chapel.

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 Walter Chapel - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 Walter Chapel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Walter Chapel.

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

  • Rural Ridge
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Hites
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Hites is located in Allegheny County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hites
  • Creighton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Dorseyville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Dorseyville is located in Allegheny County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorseyville
  • Cheswick
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Springdale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • New Kensington
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Arnold
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Arnold is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,790 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arnold <1>
  • Valley Camp
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Valley Camp is located in Westmoreland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Camp
  • Tarentum
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Harmarville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Harmarville is located in Allegheny County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmarville
  • Oakmont
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Parnassus
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
    • Brackenridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Culmerville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Culmerville is located in Allegheny County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culmerville

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

Newspapers Published in Walter Chapel ...

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 Walter Chapel.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Walter Chapel, 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 Walter Chapel.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Walter Chapel:

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 Walter Chapel, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Walter Chapel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.