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 Alfred (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 Alfred. 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 Alfred ...
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.
Alfred has also been known as: Alfred village.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Alfred. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Alfred.
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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Alfred is located in Allegany 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 Allegany County: Cattaraugus, Livingston, Steuben, Wyoming, McKean (PA) & Potter (PA).
Below are the counties that are near Alfred. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alfred:
- Allegany County (The home county of Alfred)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- Almond
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Almond
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- West Almond is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Almond
- Phillips Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Phillips Creek is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Creek
- Andover
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elm Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Valley is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Valley
- Bishopville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bishopville is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishopville
- Dyke
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dyke is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyke
- Withey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Withey is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withey
- Independence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Independence is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Hallsport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hallsport is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsport
- Angelica
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Belmont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Cattaraugus County
- Abbotts
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Abbotts is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbotts
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- Dansville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Dalton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cumminsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Cumminsville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumminsville
- Woodsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Woodsville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodsville
- Nunda
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lewis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
- West Sparta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- West Sparta is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sparta
- Kysorville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Kysorville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kysorville
- Groveland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Springwater
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Websters Crossing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Steuben County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- Hartsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hartsville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville
- Hornell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Canisteo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Hornell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Hornell is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hornell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 732 people
- Arkport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- South Canisteo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- South Canisteo is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Canisteo
- Stephens Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stephens Mills is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stephens Mills
- Adrian
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Adrian is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Rexville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jobs Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jobs Corner is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jobs Corner
- Haskinville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Haskinville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskinville
- Wyoming County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- East Koy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Koy is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Koy
- Pike
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Castile
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- McKean County (PA)
- Myrtle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Myrtle is located in McKean County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Potter County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- Genesee
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Genesee is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genesee
- North Bingham
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- North Bingham is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bingham
- North Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Fork is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- West Bingham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- West Bingham is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bingham
- Harrison Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Harrison Valley is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Valley
- Ellisburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ellisburg is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellisburg
- Chrystal
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Chrystal is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chrystal
- Elmer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Elmer is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- Ulysses
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Newfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Newfield is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfield
- Honeoye
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Honeoye is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
- Oswayo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oswayo is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswayo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Tioga County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- Austinburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Austinburg is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinburg
- Potter Brook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Potter Brook is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Brook
- Cowanesque
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cowanesque is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowanesque
- Westfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Knoxville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Elkland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alfred, see our County-by-County Page for Alfred.
Cemeteries Near Alfred ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alfred.
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 Alfred - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alfred covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- Stillman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Alfred Rural Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- East Valley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsville Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- East Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Call Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsville Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsville Center Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hartsville Center Cemetery is located outside and to the northeast of Hartsville.
- The Hartsville Center Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hartsville Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #64769 <2>
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Almond Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Phillips Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Black Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (331 more) ...
- Hillside Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dyke Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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 Alfred had a population of 139 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Alfred had a population of 3,919 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alfred, with the one closest to Alfred listed first.
- Tip Top
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Tip Top is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tip Top
- Karrdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Karrdale is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karrdale
- Almond
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Almond
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- West Almond is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Almond
- Phillips Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Phillips Creek is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Creek
- Andover
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elm Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Valley is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Valley
- Hiltonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hiltonville is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiltonville
- Bishopville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bishopville is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishopville
- Dyke
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dyke is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyke
- Canisteo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bennetts
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bennetts is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Greenwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Arkport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Withey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Withey is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withey
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alfred. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alfred.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Alfred ...
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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alfred.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Alfred. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Alfred and those printed in the larger area surrounding Alfred.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<4> of Alfred.
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 either 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 Alfred:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Allegany County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cattaraugus County
- Livingston County
- Steuben County
- Wyoming County
- McKean County
- Potter County
- Tioga County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New York
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 Alfred, 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 from Point A (ie- Alfred) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |