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 Avoca (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 Avoca. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Avoca is located in Steuben 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 Steuben County: Allegany, Chemung, Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Yates, Potter (PA) & Tioga (PA).
Below are the counties that are near Avoca. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Avoca:
- Steuben County (The home county of Avoca)
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Howard
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Howard is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
- Mitchellsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mitchellsville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellsville
- Jobs Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jobs Corner is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jobs Corner
- Cold Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cold Springs is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Springs
- Hermitage
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hermitage is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermitage
- Cohocton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bath
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Haskinville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Haskinville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskinville
- Pleasant Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Hammondsport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Atlanta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Prattsburgh
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prattsburgh is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattsburgh
- Adrian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adrian is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Allegany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Bishopville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bishopville is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishopville
- Almond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Canaseraga
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Garwoods
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Garwoods is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwoods
- Alfred
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Alfred is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfred
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,919 people
- Alfred has also been known as:
- Alfred village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alfred <1>
- Swain
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Swain is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swain
- Swain has also been known as:
- Swains Station
- Swainsville
- Swin
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Swain <1>
- West Almond
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- West Almond is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Almond
- Andover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Phillips Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Phillips Creek is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Creek
- Elm Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Valley is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Valley
- Independence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Independence is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Dyke
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dyke is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyke
- Aristotle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Aristotle is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aristotle
- Chemung County
- Post Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Post Creek is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Creek
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Dansville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Springwater
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cumminsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Cumminsville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumminsville
- Woodsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Woodsville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodsville
- Websters Crossing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Sparta
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- West Sparta is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sparta
- Groveland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kysorville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kysorville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kysorville
- Foots Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Foots Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foots Corners
- Maple Beach
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Maple Beach is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Beach
- East Groveland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- East Groveland is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Groveland
- Nunda
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dalton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ontario County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Naples
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Woodville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Woodville is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Gulick
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gulick is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulick
- Canadice
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Canadice is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadice
- West Canadice Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bristol Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bristol Center is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol Center
- Cottage City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cottage City is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage City
- Richmond Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond Mills is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Mills
- Bristol
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bristol is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Gorham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Wayne
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- North Reading
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- North Reading is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Reading
- Townsend
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Townsend is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townsend
- Beaver Dams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Reading Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Moreland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Moreland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
- Wedgewood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wedgewood is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wedgewood
- Hector
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Watkins Glen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Watkins Glen is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins Glen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,851 people
- Former names for Watkins Glen:
- Jefferson
- Salubria
- Watkins
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Watkins Glen <1>
- Burdett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Montour Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Logan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Logan is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan
- Yates County
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Italy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Italy is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italy
- Barrington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Vine Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Vine Valley is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Valley
- Keuka Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Potter
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Potter is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter
- Yatesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Yatesville is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yatesville
- Dundee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Penn Yan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Glenora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Glenora is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenora
- Rushville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Himrod
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Benton Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Benton Center is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Center
- Seneca Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Seneca Mills is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca Mills
- Tioga County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Austinburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Austinburg is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinburg
- Elkland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Osceola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Osceola is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Avoca, see our County-by-County Page for Avoca.
Cemeteries Near Avoca ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Avoca.
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 Avoca - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Avoca covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Highland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Old Cemetery of Avoca
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Avoca Town Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca Town Cemetery
- The Avoca Town Cemetery has also been known as:
- Avoca Town Line Cemetery
- Old Avoca Cemetery
- Old Avoca Village Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2187907 <2>
- Vale of Rest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Smith Pond Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wallace Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Slayton Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Norris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Willis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Allen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rice Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chamberlain Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (386 more) ...
- Olmstead Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Greenville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Howard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 Avoca had a population of 953 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Avoca had a population of 883 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Avoca, with the one closest to Avoca listed first.
- Wallace
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kanona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marshalls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Marshalls is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshalls
- Wheeler
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wheeler is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Howard
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Howard is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
- Mitchellsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mitchellsville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchellsville
- Dineharts
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dineharts is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dineharts
- Bath
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hermitage
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hermitage is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermitage
- Cohocton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Haskinville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Haskinville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haskinville
- Big Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Big Creek is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Buena Vista
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Pleasant Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Rheims
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rheims is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rheims
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Avoca. See our List of 1890's Communities around Avoca.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Avoca ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Avoca.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Avoca. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Avoca and those printed in the larger area surrounding Avoca.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4> of Avoca.
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 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 Avoca:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Steuben County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegany County
- Chemung County
- Livingston County
- Ontario County
- Schuyler County
- Yates 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 Avoca, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Avoca) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |