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 Lawn (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 Lawn. 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 Lawn ...
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 Lawn: W. Lawn
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Lawn. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Lawn.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
West Lawn is located in Berks 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 Berks County: Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery & Schuylkill.
Below are the counties that are near West Lawn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Lawn:
- Berks County (The home county of West Lawn)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Wyomissing Hills
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Wyomissing Hills is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyomissing Hills
- Whitfield
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Whitfield is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- West Wyomissing
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- West Wyomissing is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Wyomissing
- Wyomissing
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Spring Ridge
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Spring Ridge is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Ridge
- Sinking Spring
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- West Reading
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mohnton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Kenhorst
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shillington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Tallowyck
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tallowyck is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallowyck
- Deerfield Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Deerfield Village is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield Village
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Elverson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Honey Brook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Dampman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dampman is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dampman
- Isabella
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Isabella is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isabella
- Loag
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Loag is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loag
- Cambridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cambridge is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Suplee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Suplee is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suplee
- Cupola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cupola is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cupola
- Knauertown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Knauertown is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knauertown
- Pottstown Landing
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Pottstown Landing is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottstown Landing
- Rockville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Rockville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Birdell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Birdell is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdell
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Blainsport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blainsport is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsport
- Denver
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Reamstown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Red Run
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Red Run is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Run
- Stevens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cocalico
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cocalico is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cocalico
- Terre Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Churchtown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Weaverland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Weaverland is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaverland
- Blue Ball
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ephrata
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hinkletown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hinkletown is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkletown
- Lebanon County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Newmanstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sheridan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Sheridan is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Stricklerstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Stricklerstown is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stricklerstown
- Richland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Myerstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Schaefferstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Johnstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Johnstown is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Prescott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Prescott is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Avon Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Avon Heights is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon Heights
- Avon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Avon is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Greble
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Greble is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greble
- Miners Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Miners Village is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miners Village
- Lehigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- New Smithville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Smithville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Smithville
- Hynemansville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hynemansville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynemansville
- Stines Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Stines Corner is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stines Corner
- Weisenberg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Weisenberg is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weisenberg
- Alburtis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hensingersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hensingersville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hensingersville
- Seipstown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Seipstown is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seipstown
- Wallner ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wallner is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallner
- Jacksonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jacksonville is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Powder Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Powder Valley is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powder Valley
- Ancient Oaks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ancient Oaks is located in Lehigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ancient Oaks
- Macungie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Luzerne County
- Newtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Newtown is located in Luzerne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtown
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Bramcote
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Bramcote is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bramcote
- Stowe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- West Pottsgrove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- West Pottsgrove is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pottsgrove
- Halfway House
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Halfway House is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway House
- Pottstown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Gilbertsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pottsgrove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pottsgrove is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottsgrove
- Congo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Congo is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Congo
- New Hanover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sanatoga
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Fagleysville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fagleysville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagleysville
- Pleasant Run
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Run is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Schuylkill County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Port Clinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Auburn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jefferson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jefferson is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Aucheys
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Aucheys is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheys
- Summit Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Summit Station is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Station
- Deer Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Deer Lake is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 645 people
- Lake Wynonah
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Wynonah is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Wynonah
- Moyers
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Moyers is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyers
- Landingville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Landingville is located in Schuylkill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landingville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
- Friedensburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Schuylkill Haven
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cressona
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Lawn, see our County-by-County Page for West Lawn.
Cemeteries Near West Lawn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Lawn.
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 Lawn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Lawn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Weidman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Sinking Spring Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mohnsville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Sinai Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wyomissing Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Yocums Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kesher Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kesher Zion Cemetery
- The Kesher Zion Cemetery has also been known as:
- Kesher Zion Congregation Memorial Grounds
- Kisher Zion Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #348729 <2>
- St. Stephens Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bernardine Sisters Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (310 more) ...
- Charles Evans Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shomre Habrith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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 Lawn in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Lawn.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Lawn, with the one closest to West Lawn listed first.
- Sinking Spring
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Cacoosing
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cacoosing is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cacoosing
- Shillington
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Grill is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grill
- Millmont
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Millmont is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millmont
- Reading
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Leinbachs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Leinbachs is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leinbachs
- Fritztown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fritztown is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fritztown
- Gouglersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gouglersville is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gouglersville
- Muhlenberg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Muhlenberg is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muhlenberg
- Wernersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Vinemont
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Vinemont is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinemont
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Knauers
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Knauers is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knauers
- Angelica
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Angelica is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angelica
- Ridgewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ridgewood is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Lawn. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Lawn.
Newspapers Published in West Lawn ...
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 127 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Lawn.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Lawn, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Lawn.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Lawn:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Berks County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chester County
- Lancaster County
- Lebanon County
- Lehigh County
- Luzerne County
- Montgomery County
- Schuylkill 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 Lawn, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Lawn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |