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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 East River (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 East River. 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 East River ...

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 East River: E. River

You might be interested in other communities that are also named East River. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for East River.

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 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.

East River is located in New Haven County.

To see how the shape of Connecticut's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of New Haven County: Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield & Middlesex.

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

  • New Haven County     (The home county of East River)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East River, with the one closest to East River listed first.
    • Madison
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Guilford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Madison
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Madison is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,924 people
    • Guilford
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Guilford is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,043 people
    • North Madison
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • North Madison is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Madison
    • Stony Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Stony Creek is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
    • North Branford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Orchard
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Pine Orchard is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
    • North Branford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • North Branford is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,066 people
    • Branford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Branford is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,736 people
    • Branford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Totoket
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Totoket is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Totoket
  • Fairfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East River, with the one closest to East River listed first.
    • Shelton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Oronoque
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Oronoque is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oronoque
    • Shelton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Shelton is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 40,957 people
    • Huntington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Huntington is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
    • Stratford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Stratford is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51,660 people
    • Stratford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • White Hills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • White Hills is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hills
    • Nichols
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Nichols is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
    • East Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • East Village is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
    • Bridgeport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Bridgeport is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143,525 people
    • Bridgeport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Monroe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Hartford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East River, with the one closest to East River listed first.
    • Berlin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Berlin is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,390 people
    • Berlin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • East Berlin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Milldale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Taylor Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Taylor Town is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Town
    • Marion
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Plantsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Southington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Kensington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Marlborough
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Marlborough is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,303 people
    • Marlborough
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Rocky Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Rocky Hill is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Hill
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,037 people
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East River, with the one closest to East River listed first.
    • Clinton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Clinton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,881 people
    • Clinton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Killingworth
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Killingworth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Killingworth is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killingworth
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,340 people
    • Grove Beach
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Grove Beach is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Beach
    • Westbrook
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Westbrook is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,842 people
    • Westbrook
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Deep River
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Deep River is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,419 people
    • Little City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Little City is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little City
    • Chester
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Chester is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,175 people
    • Ivoryton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Centerbrook
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • New London County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East River, with the one closest to East River listed first.
    • Hadlyme
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Lyme
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Hamburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hamburg is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
    • Lyme
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,304 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lyme <1>
    • Sterling City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sterling City is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling City
    • Old Lyme
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Old Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Lyme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,280 people
    • Lyme
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyme
    • South Lyme
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • East Lyme
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • East Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lyme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,525 people
    • East Lyme
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Westchester
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Westchester is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westchester
    • Niantic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Tolland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from East River, with the one closest to East River listed first.
    • Amston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hebron
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hebron is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,480 people
    • Turnerville ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Turnerville is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
    • Gilead
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilead is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Hebron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Suffolk County (NY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East River, with the one closest to East River listed first.
    • East Marion
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Peconic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Southold
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Luce Landing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Luce Landing is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luce Landing
    • Cutchogue
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Dering Harbor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Dering Harbor is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dering Harbor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11 people
    • Orient
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Shelter Island Heights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Shelter Island Heights is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelter Island Heights
    • Mattituck
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Northville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Northville is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northville
    • New Suffolk
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near East River ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of East River.

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 East River - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • West Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Westside Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Alderbrook Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Nut Plains Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • West Side Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • West Side Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Hammonasset Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Southwest Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Summer Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (432 more) ...
    • Indian River Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Pine Orchard Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Union Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that East River had a population of 300 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Madison
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Guilford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Leetes Island
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Leetes Island is located in New Haven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leetes Island
  • Sachem Head
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sachem Head is located in New Haven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sachem Head
  • Clinton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • North Madison
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • North Madison is located in New Haven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Madison
  • Stony Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Stony Creek is located in New Haven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
  • Killingworth
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • North Guilford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • North Guilford is located in New Haven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Guilford
  • North Branford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Pine Orchard
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Pine Orchard is located in New Haven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
  • Grove Beach
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Grove Beach is located in Middlesex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Beach
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Westbrook
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Winthrop
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Winthrop is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop
    • Totoket
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Totoket is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Totoket

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

Newspapers Published in East River ...

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 234 newspapers that have been published in the area around East River.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of East River, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for East River.

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 East River:

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