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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 Housatonic (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 Housatonic. 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.

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.

Housatonic is located in Berkshire County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Berkshire County: Litchfield (CT), Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Columbia (NY), Rensselaer (NY) & Bennington (VT).

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

  • Berkshire County     (The home county of Housatonic)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Housatonic, with the one closest to Housatonic listed first.
    • Van Deusenville
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Rockdale Mills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Glendale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glendale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
      • Glendale is located in Berkshire County
    • Alford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Stockbridge
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • South Lee
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Great Barrington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • West Stockbridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Egremont Plain
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • North Egremont
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Egremont
      • North Egremont is located in Berkshire County
    • Lee
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • South Egremont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Egremont
      • South Egremont is located in Berkshire County
    • Egremont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egremont
      • Egremont is located in Berkshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,202 people
  • Hampden County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Housatonic, with the one closest to Housatonic listed first.
    • Chester
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chester have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
      • Chester is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,365 people
    • North Blandford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Tolland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tolland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolland
      • Tolland is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
    • Chester Center
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • North Chester
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Blandford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blandford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blandford
      • Blandford is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,249 people
    • West Granville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Russell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Montgomery
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Montgomery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
      • Montgomery is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 863 people
    • Woronoco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Granville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Granville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
      • Granville is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,606 people
  • Hampshire County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Housatonic, with the one closest to Housatonic listed first.
    • Middlefield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Middlefield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlefield
      • Middlefield is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
    • Worthington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Worthington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
      • Worthington is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,176 people
    • Worthington Corners
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Huntington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huntington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
      • Huntington is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,159 people
    • West Chesterfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Chesterfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chesterfield
      • West Chesterfield is located in Hampshire County
    • Chesterfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chesterfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
      • Chesterfield is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,250 people
    • Cummington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Plainfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plainfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
      • Plainfield is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 663 people
    • Swift River
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Westhampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Hartford County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Housatonic, with the one closest to Housatonic listed first.
    • Hartland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hartland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
      • Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
    • West Hartland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hartland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hartland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
      • Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,113 people
    • East Hartland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Hartland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hartland
      • East Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for East Hartland <3>
  • Litchfield County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Housatonic, with the one closest to Housatonic listed first.
    • Clayton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Clayton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
      • Clayton is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Clayton
      • From Housatonic to Clayton
    • Canaan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Taconic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Wangum Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wangum Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wangum Village
      • Wangum Village is located in Litchfield County (CT)
    • North Canaan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Canaan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Canaan
      • North Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
    • Twin Lakes
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • East Canaan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Canaan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Canaan
      • East Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for East Canaan <3>
    • Salisbury
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Salisbury have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
      • Salisbury is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,584 people
    • Salisbury
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Norfolk
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Amesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Canaan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Canaan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
      • Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
    • Falls Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Albany County (NY)
  • Columbia County (NY)
  • Dutchess County (NY)
  • Greene County (NY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Housatonic, with the one closest to Housatonic listed first.
    • Athens
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Coxsackie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Catskill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Catskill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catskill
      • Catskill is located in Greene County (NY)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,815 people
    • Jefferson Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Leeds
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Leeds have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
      • Leeds is located in Greene County (NY)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leeds <3>
    • Medway
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Cairo Junction
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Kiskatom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kiskatom. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiskatom
      • Kiskatom is located in Greene County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kiskatom
      • From Housatonic to Kiskatom
    • South Cairo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Rensselaer County (NY)

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

Cemeteries Near Housatonic ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Housatonic.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Housatonic had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Van Deusenville
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Alford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Rockdale Mills
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Glendale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glendale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • Glendale is located in Berkshire County
  • Stockbridge
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Great Barrington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • South Lee
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • West Stockbridge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • North Egremont
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Egremont
    • North Egremont is located in Berkshire County
  • Egremont Plain
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Green River
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • South Egremont
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Egremont
    • South Egremont is located in Berkshire County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • State Line
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for State Line have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
      • State Line is located in Berkshire County
    • Lee
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Austerlitz
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Housatonic ...

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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Housatonic.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Housatonic, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<7>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Housatonic.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Housatonic:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Housatonic. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MACRIS (for the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System). More information about the MHC and MACRIS can be found on their website: mhc-macris.net.

When visiting the MACRIS website, you might encounter their page requiring the 'Acceptance of Terms'. With your acceptance, you'll be transfered to the desired page.

<6>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 Housatonic, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<7>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- Housatonic) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Housatonic. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.2548, Longitude: -73.3664    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025