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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 Cattaraugus (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 Cattaraugus. 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 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.

Cattaraugus is located in Cattaraugus 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 Cattaraugus County: Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming, McKean (PA) & Warren (PA).

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

  • Cattaraugus County     (The home county of Cattaraugus)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cattaraugus, with the one closest to Cattaraugus listed first.
    • Otto
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Eddyville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
    • Persia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Persia is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
    • Little Valley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Axeville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Axeville is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Axeville
    • Leon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Gowanda
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Gowanda is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,524 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gowanda <1>
    • Brooklyn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Napoli
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Napoli is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoli
    • Elkdale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elkdale is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkdale
    • South Dayton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ellicottville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Conewango
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Conewango is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conewango
  • Allegany County
    • Fairview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Fairview is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
  • Chautauqua County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cattaraugus, with the one closest to Cattaraugus listed first.
    • Cherry Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Wango
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Wango is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
    • Parcells Corners
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Parcells Corners is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parcells Corners
    • Kennedy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Forestville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Poland Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Poland Center is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poland Center
    • Irving
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Sinclairville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Sheridan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Silver Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Gerry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ivory
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ivory is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivory
    • Ross Mills
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ross Mills is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross Mills
  • Erie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cattaraugus, with the one closest to Cattaraugus listed first.
    • Morton Corners
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Morton Corners is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corners
    • Concord
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Concord is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Springville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wyandale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Wyandale is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandale
    • Shirley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Shirley is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirley
    • North Collins
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Brant
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Pontiac
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Pontiac is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pontiac
    • Footes
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Footes is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footes
    • Boston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Farnham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Angola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Eden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cattaraugus, with the one closest to Cattaraugus listed first.
    • Arcade
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Curriers
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
  • McKean County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Cattaraugus, with the one closest to Cattaraugus listed first.
    • Tuna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tuna is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
    • Foster Brook
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Foster Brook is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
    • Bradford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Derrick City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Gilmore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Gilmore is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Degolia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Degolia is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
    • Sawyer City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sawyer City is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
  • Warren County (PA)
    • Sugar Run ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Sugar Run is located in Warren County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run

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

Cemeteries Near Cattaraugus ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cattaraugus.

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

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

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

  • Rumsey Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Liberty Park Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Lower New Albion Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • West Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Otto Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Snyder Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Tug Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Willson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willson Cemetery
    • The Willson Cemetery has also been known as:
    • East Hill Cemetery
    • Jersey Hollow Cemetery
    • Mansfield Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2227550 <2>
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Snyder Corners Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder Corners Cemetery
    • The Snyder Corners Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Malks Cemetery
    • Milks Cemetery
    • Prince Cemetery
    • Rich Valley Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #65158 <2>
  • Kendell Flats Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (227 more) ...

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 Cattaraugus had a population of 878 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Cattaraugus had a population of 900 people.

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

  • Otto
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • New Albion
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • East Leon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • East Leon is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leon
  • Eddyville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
  • Persia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Persia is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
  • Wesley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Wesley is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
  • Little Valley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • East Otto
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • East Otto is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otto
  • Leon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Dayton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Markhams
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Markhams is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markhams
  • Napoli
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Napoli is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoli
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Gowanda
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Gowanda is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,524 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gowanda <1>
    • Elkdale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Elkdale is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkdale
    • South Dayton
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Cattaraugus. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cattaraugus.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Cattaraugus ...

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 149 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cattaraugus.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Cattaraugus. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Cattaraugus and those printed in the larger area surrounding Cattaraugus.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4> of Cattaraugus.

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 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 Cattaraugus:

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 Cattaraugus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Cattaraugus) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.