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 West Beech (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 West Beech. 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.
Name Variations for West Beech ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Beech: W. Beech
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 doctors 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.
West Beech is located in Centre 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 Centre County: Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin & Union.
Below are the counties that are near West Beech. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Beech:
- Centre County (The home county of West Beech)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Blanchard
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Blanchard is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
- Howard
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Romola
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Romola is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romola
- Monument
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Monument is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monument
- Madisonburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Madisonburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonburg
- Rebersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Curtin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Curtin is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtin
- Zion
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Zion is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion
- Aaronsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Millheim
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wolfs Store
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wolfs Store is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfs Store
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Pottersdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pottersdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersdale
- Keewaydin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Abdera
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Abdera is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abdera
- Lamar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Springs is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Springs
- Beech Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mill Hall
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Salona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Salona is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salona
- Flemington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Flemington is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,312 people
- Rote
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rote is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rote
- Farrandsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Farrandsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrandsville
- Castanea
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lock Haven
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Tylersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Tylersville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
- Lycoming County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Jersey Shore
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Antes Fort
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Antes Fort is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antes Fort
- Ramsey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ramsey is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramsey
- English Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- English Mills is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Mills
- Jersey Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Collomsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Collomsville is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collomsville
- Salladasburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Salladasburg is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salladasburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 223 people
- Hughesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Linden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Carsontown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Carsontown is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsontown
- Brookside
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brookside is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Grimesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grimesville is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimesville
- Mifflin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Milroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Honey Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Honey Creek is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Creek
- Lumber City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lumber City is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumber City
- Reedsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Alfarata
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Alfarata is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfarata
- Paintersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Paintersville is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintersville
- Yeagertown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Burnham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kishacoquillas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kishacoquillas is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kishacoquillas
- Highland Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Highland Park is located in Mifflin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- Snyder County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Bannerville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bannerville is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannerville
- Middle Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Middle Creek is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Creek
- Troxelville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Troxelville is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troxelville
- Benfer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Benfer is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benfer
- Beaver Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver Springs is located in Snyder County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
- McClure
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beavertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Penns Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Cherry Run
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cherry Run is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
- Pardee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pardee is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pardee
- Glen Iron
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Iron is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Iron
- Laurelton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Laurelton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelton
- Hartleton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hartleton is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 275 people
- Millmont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Red Bank
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Red Bank is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
- Mifflinburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Beech, see our County-by-County Page for West Beech.
Cemeteries Near West Beech ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Beech.
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 West Beech - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Beech covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Hays - Fearon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lick Run Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sunnyside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Schencks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Disciples Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fairview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beth Yehuda Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- St. Agnes Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (85 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- St. Marys 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 West Beech in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Beech.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Beech, with the one closest to West Beech listed first.
- Eagleville
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Eagleville is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagleville
- Blanchard
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Blanchard is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
- Abdera
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Abdera is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abdera
- Lamar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Parvin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Parvin is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parvin
- Nittany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Nittany is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nittany
- Clintondale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clintondale is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintondale
- Cedar Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Springs is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Springs
- Mill Hall
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Beech Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Romola
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Romola is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romola
- Hublersburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hublersburg is located in Centre County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hublersburg
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Mackeyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mackeyville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackeyville
- Salona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Salona is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salona
- Flemington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Flemington is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,312 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Beech. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Beech.
Newspapers Published in West Beech ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Beech.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Beech, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Beech.
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 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 West Beech:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Centre County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clearfield County
- Clinton County
- Lycoming County
- Mifflin County
- Snyder County
- Union 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 West Beech, 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- West Beech) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |