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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 Afton (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 Afton. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Afton is located in Chenango County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Chenango County: Broome, Cortland, Delaware, Madison & Otsego.

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

  • Chenango County     (The home county of Afton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Nineveh Junction
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Nineveh Junction is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nineveh Junction
    • West Bainbridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • West Bainbridge is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bainbridge
    • Bainbridge
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Valley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Union Valley is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Valley
    • Yaleville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Yaleville is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yaleville
    • East Guilford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • East Guilford is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Guilford
    • Guilford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Greene
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Oxford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Mount Upton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Haynes
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Haynes is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
    • Lathams Corners
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Lathams Corners is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lathams Corners
    • Adams Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Adams Corner is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
  • Broome County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Nineveh
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Center Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Center Village is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Village
    • Creekside Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Creekside Village is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creekside Village
    • Harpursville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Belden
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Belden is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
    • East Windsor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • East Windsor is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Windsor
    • Ouaquaga
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • North Colesville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • North Colesville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Colesville
    • Deposit
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Windsor
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Windsor is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 853 people
    • Quinneville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Quinneville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinneville
    • Gulf Summit
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Gulf Summit is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Summit
    • Brookvale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Brookvale is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale
  • Cortland County
    • Marathon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Masonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Sidney
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • China
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • China is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China
    • Barbourville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Barbourville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbourville
    • Hambletville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Hambletville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambletville
    • Tacoma
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Tacoma is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma
    • Sidney Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Merrickville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Merrickville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrickville
    • Franklin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Walton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Cadosia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cadosia is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadosia
    • Hancock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mundale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Mundale is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundale
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Unadilla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Copes Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Copes Corner is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copes Corner
    • Wells Bridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Youmans Corner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Youmans Corner is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youmans Corner
    • Gilbertsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Otego
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Morris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • West Oneonta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • West Oneonta is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oneonta
    • West End
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • West End is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
    • Oneonta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Laurens
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Pittsfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pittsfield is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
  • Tioga County
    • Ketchumville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Ketchumville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchumville
  • Susquehanna County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Brandt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Brandt is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandt
    • Lanesboro
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Lanesboro is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesboro
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 501 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lanesboro <1>
    • Oakland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Oakland is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
    • Susquehanna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Susquehanna Depot
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Susquehanna Depot is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susquehanna Depot
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,444 people
    • Great Bend
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hallstead
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hallstead is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallstead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,195 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hallstead <1>
    • North Jackson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • North Jackson is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Jackson
    • Lakeview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Lakeview is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
    • Thompson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Thompson is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 267 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thompson <1>
    • Lawsville Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Lawsville Center is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsville Center
    • New Milford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Brackney
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wayne County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton listed first.
    • Sherman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Sherman is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Starrucca
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Lakewood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Wrighter Corner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Wrighter Corner is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrighter Corner
    • Poyntelle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Poyntelle is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poyntelle
    • High Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • High Lake is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Lake

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

Cemeteries Near Afton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Afton.

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 Afton - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Afton, with the one closest to Afton 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Afton had a population of 1,683 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Afton had a population of 796 people.

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

  • Vallonia Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Vallonia Springs is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vallonia Springs
  • Nineveh
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Bennettsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bennettsville is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettsville
  • Bainbridge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • West Bainbridge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • West Bainbridge is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bainbridge
  • Harpursville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Doraville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Doraville is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doraville
  • North Sanford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Sanford is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sanford
  • Coventryville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Coventryville is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventryville
  • Union Valley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Union Valley is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Valley
  • Belden
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Belden is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
  • Whitman
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Whitman is located in Delaware County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitman
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Masonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • East Windsor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • East Windsor is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Windsor
    • China
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • China is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Afton ...

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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Afton.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Afton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Afton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Afton.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4> of Afton.

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 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 Afton:

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 Afton, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Afton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.