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 Bolivar (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 Bolivar. 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 Bolivar ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Bolivar: W. Bolivar
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 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 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 Bolivar is located in Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County: Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana & Somerset.
Below are the counties that are near West Bolivar. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Bolivar:
- Westmoreland County (The home county of West Bolivar)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Bolivar
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- West Fairfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
- New Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Robb
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Robb is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robb
- Burrell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Burrell is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrell
- Seward
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Derry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Derry is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,495 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Derry <1>
- New Derry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Livermore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Livermore is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livermore
- Ligonier
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Darlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Darlington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington
- Kingston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kingston is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Olivet
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Olivet is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Edmon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- Spring Church
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elderton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Orchard Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Cochrans Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cochrans Mills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrans Mills
- North Apollo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Atwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Atwood is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
- Apollo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Whitesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whitesburg is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesburg
- Blanco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Blanco is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanco
- Leechburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tunnelville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tunnelville is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnelville
- Cambria County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Wilmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Brownstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Cambria City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Cambria City is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria City
- Lilly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lilly is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
- Southmont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Southmont is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
- Westmont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Westmont is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,625 people
- Conemaugh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Conemaugh is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conemaugh
- Johnstown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Elim
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Elim is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elim
- Daisytown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Daisytown is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisytown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 290 people
- East Conemaugh
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- East Conemaugh is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Conemaugh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,090 people
- Dale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dale is located in Cambria County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,110 people
- Ferndale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Bear Rocks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bear Rocks is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Rocks
- Champion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Laurelville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Laurelville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelville
- Seven Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- White
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- White is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Indian Head
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Head is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Head
- Everson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Everson is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Robinson
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Robinson is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
- Palmertown
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Black Lick
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Josephine
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Josephine is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Josephine
- Heshbon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Heshbon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heshbon
- Blairsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coral
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Graceton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Graceton is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graceton
- Armagh
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Claghorn ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Claghorn is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claghorn
- Waterman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Waterman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterman
- Dilltown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Homer City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Thomas Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas Mill is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Mill
- Laurel Mountain Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Jerome
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jerome is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Tire Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tire Hill is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tire Hill
- Jennerstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Davidsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jenners Crossroads
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Jenners Crossroads is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners Crossroads
- Benson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Benson is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Hollsopple
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jenners
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Jenners is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenners
- Paint
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Paint is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paint
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
- Roytown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Roytown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roytown
- Blough
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Blough is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blough
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Bolivar, see our County-by-County Page for West Bolivar.
Cemeteries Near West Bolivar ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Bolivar.
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 Bolivar - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Bolivar covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Westview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Legat Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Blairsville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Coral Lutheran Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coral Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Coral Lutheran Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Coral.
- The Coral Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lutheran Chapel Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2129169 <2>
- Coles Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Armagh Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Green Mtn. Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Kunkle Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (231 more) ...
- Conrad Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Smathers Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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 West Bolivar in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Bolivar.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Bolivar, with the one closest to West Bolivar listed first.
- Bolivar
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lockport
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lockport is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockport
- West Fairfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Fairfield is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairfield
- New Florence
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Grays
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Grays is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays
- Hillside
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hillside is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillside
- Clyde
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Clyde is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Smith
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Smith is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Cokeville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cokeville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokeville
- Heshbon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Heshbon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heshbon
- Blairsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burrell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Burrell is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrell
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Millwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Millwood is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
- Seward
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Armagh
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Bolivar. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Bolivar.
Newspapers Published in West Bolivar ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Bolivar.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Bolivar, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Bolivar.
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 West Bolivar:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Westmoreland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Cambria County
- Fayette County
- Indiana County
- Somerset 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 Bolivar, 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 from Point A (ie- West Bolivar) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |