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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 Black Lake (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 Black Lake. 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 Black Lake ...

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 Black Lake: Black Lk.

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

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 hospitals and 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.

Black Lake is located in Sullivan 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 Sullivan County: Delaware, Orange, Ulster, Pike (PA) & Wayne (PA).

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

  • Sullivan County     (The home county of Black Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Lake, with the one closest to Black Lake listed first.
    • Smallwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Kauneonga Lake
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mongaup Valley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Squirrels Corners
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Squirrels Corners is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squirrels Corners
    • Cochecton Center
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Briscoe
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Briscoe is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
    • Harris
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Falls Mills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Falls Mills is located in Sullivan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
    • Eldred
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Monticello
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Jeffersonville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Yulan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Lake, with the one closest to Black Lake listed first.
    • Rock Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Rock Valley is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Valley
    • Cooks Falls
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Cooks Falls is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Falls
    • Butternut Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Butternut Grove is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut Grove
    • Pea Brook
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Pea Brook is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Brook
    • Horton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Horton is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
    • Chiloway
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Chiloway is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chiloway
    • Peakville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Peakville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peakville
    • Corbett
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Corbett is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbett
    • Gregorytown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Gregorytown is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregorytown
    • Shinhopple
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Harvard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Harvard is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Cadosia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cadosia is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadosia
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Lake, with the one closest to Black Lake listed first.
    • Paradise
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Paradise is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
    • Cuddebackville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Port Orange
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Port Orange is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Orange
    • Sparrow Bush
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Huguenot
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Otisville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Port Jervis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Shin Hollow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Shin Hollow is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shin Hollow
    • Finchville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Finchville is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchville
    • South Centerville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • South Centerville is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Centerville
    • Middletown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Washington Heights
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Washington Heights is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Heights
  • Ulster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Lake, with the one closest to Black Lake listed first.
    • Spring Glen
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Cragsmoor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Cragsmoor is located in Ulster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cragsmoor
    • Ellenville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Walker Valley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Napanoch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Crawford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Crawford is located in Ulster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
    • Port Ben
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Port Ben is located in Ulster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Ben
    • Ulsterville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Ulsterville is located in Ulster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulsterville
    • Wawarsing
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Bull Run
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bull Run is located in Ulster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull Run
    • Dwaarkill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Dwaarkill is located in Ulster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwaarkill
    • Kerhonkson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Sussex County (NJ)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Lake, with the one closest to Black Lake listed first.
    • Colesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Colesville is located in Sussex County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colesville
    • Layton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Layton is located in Sussex County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton
    • Libertyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Libertyville is located in Sussex County (NJ)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Libertyville
  • Pike County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Lake, with the one closest to Black Lake listed first.
    • Masthope
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Masthope is located in Pike County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masthope
    • Westcolang
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Westcolang is located in Pike County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westcolang
    • Lackawaxen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Parkers Glen
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Parkers Glen is located in Pike County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Glen
    • Rowland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Millrift
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Millrift is located in Pike County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millrift
    • Kimble
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Kimble is located in Pike County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimble
    • Matamoras
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lords Valley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Wilsonville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Wilsonville is located in Pike County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsonville
    • Milford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Tafton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Wayne County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Lake, with the one closest to Black Lake listed first.
    • Milanville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Milanville is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milanville
    • Damascus
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Boyds Mills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Boyds Mills is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds Mills
    • Calkins
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Calkins is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calkins
    • Laurella
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Laurella is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurella
    • Carley Brook
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Carley Brook is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carley Brook
    • Hawley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hawley is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,138 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hawley <1>
    • Dyberry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Dyberry is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyberry
    • Honesdale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Siko
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Siko is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siko
    • Bethany
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Seelyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Seelyville is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seelyville

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

Cemeteries Near Black Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Black Lake.

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 Black Lake - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Old Bethel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Pintler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Temple Beth El Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bethel Evergreen Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Mongaup Valley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Stewart Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Lyon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Van Keuren Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Beaver Brook Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Soule Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Fosterdale Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Nearing Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (131 more) ...
    • Laurel Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • St. Anthonys Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Fulton 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.<2>

While we didn't find Black Lake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Black Lake.

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

  • Bethel
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • White Lake
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mongaup Valley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Maplewood
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Maplewood is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maplewood
  • Cochecton Center
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Bushville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Bushville is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushville
  • Kenoza Lake
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Fosterdale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Lava
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Lava is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lava
  • Forestburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Forestburg is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestburg
  • Falls Mills
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Falls Mills is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
  • Briscoe
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Briscoe is located in Sullivan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Jeffersonville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Monticello
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Narrowsburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Black Lake ...

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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Black Lake.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Black Lake, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Black Lake.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Black Lake:

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>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 Black Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Black Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.