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 New Kensington (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 New Kensington. 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 New Kensington ...
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 New Kensington: W. New Kensington
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 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.
West New Kensington 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 West New Kensington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West New Kensington:
- Allegheny County (The home county of West New Kensington)
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Springdale
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cheswick
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Harwick
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Harwick is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwick
- Tarentum
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Brackenridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rural Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Natrona
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Natrona is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
- Leechburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Leechburg is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leechburg
- New Texas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Texas is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Texas
- Plum
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Plum is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26,993 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Plum <1>
- Oakmont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Indianola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Armstrong County
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Freeport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Aladdin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Aladdin is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin
- Leechburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Apollo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- North Apollo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Orchard Hills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Orchard Hills is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Edmon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Edmon is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmon
- McVille
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- McVille is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVille
- Neale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Neale is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neale
- Spring Church
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- 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
- Rosston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rosston is located in Armstrong County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosston
- Beaver County
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Economy
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Knob
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Knob is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knob
- Ambridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Wallace City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Wallace City is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace City
- Baden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Heights
(24 miles [38.6 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Conway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Crestmont Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Crestmont Village is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestmont Village
- Freedom
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gringo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gringo is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gringo
- New Sheffield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- New Sheffield is located in Beaver County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sheffield
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Ekastown
(10 miles [16.1 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 north)
- Monroe is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Frazier Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Frazier Mill is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier Mill
- Leasureville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Leasureville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leasureville
- Saxonburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Glade Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Glade Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Mills
- Valencia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dennys Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dennys Mills is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennys Mills
- Mars
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Great Belt
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Great Belt is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Belt
- Brownsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsdale is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsdale
- Myoma
(17 miles [27.4 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 West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Phillipston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Phillipston is located in Clarion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipston
- East Brady
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Arnold City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Arnold City is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold City
- Banning
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Banning is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banning
- Belle Vernon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lynnwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lynnwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood
- Indiana County
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- White
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- White is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White
- Clarksburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bow is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow
- Saltsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Lebanon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Lebanon is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Lebanon
- Jacksonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Parkwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Parkwood is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Shelocta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Aultman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Aultman is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aultman
- Blairsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Smathers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Smathers is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smathers
- Black Lick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Black Lick is located in Indiana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Lick
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Ellsworth
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Ellsworth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Finleyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gastonville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gastonville
- 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
- Black Diamond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Black Diamond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Diamond
- Monongahela
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- New Eagle
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Riverview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Riverview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Baidland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Baidland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baidland
- Donora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- MacDonald
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- MacDonald is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for MacDonald
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- New Kensington
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Parnassus
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Arnold
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lower Burrell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Weinel Crossroads
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Weinel Crossroads is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weinel Crossroads
- North Washington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Washington is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Washington
- Bagdad
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bagdad is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagdad
- West Leechburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Leechburg is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leechburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Franklin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- East Vandergrift
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Hyde Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Murrysville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West New Kensington, see our County-by-County Page for West New Kensington.
Cemeteries Near West New Kensington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West New Kensington.
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 New Kensington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West New Kensington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Springdale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Deer Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- St. Mark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dugan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Clemens Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospect Cemetery
- The Prospect Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tarentum Burying Ground
- Tarentum Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #45831 <2>
- Our Lady of Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oakmont - Verona Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (410 more) ...
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Richey Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- St. John The Baptist Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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 New Kensington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West New Kensington.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West New Kensington, with the one closest to West New Kensington listed first.
- Parnassus
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Parnassus is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- New Kensington
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hites
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hites is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hites
- Cheswick
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Springdale
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Arnold
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Valley Camp
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Valley Camp is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Camp
- Creighton
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Tarentum
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Brackenridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rural Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Harmarville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harmarville is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmarville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Oakmont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Unity
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Unity is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unity
- New Texas
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Texas is located in Allegheny County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Texas
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West New Kensington. See our List of 1890's Communities around West New Kensington.
Newspapers Published in West New Kensington ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around West New Kensington.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West New Kensington, 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 West New Kensington.
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 helpful 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 New Kensington:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Allegheny County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Armstrong County
- Beaver County
- Butler County
- Clarion County
- Fayette County
- Indiana County
- Washington County
- Westmoreland 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 New Kensington, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West New Kensington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |