RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New York >> Erie County >> Clifton Heights >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Clifton Heights (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 Clifton Heights. 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 Clifton Heights ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Clifton Heights: Clifton Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)

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

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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Clifton Heights is located in Erie 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 Erie County: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara & Wyoming.

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

  • Erie County     (The home county of Clifton Heights)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifton Heights, with the one closest to Clifton Heights listed first.
    • Wanakah
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Wanakah is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wanakah
    • Athol Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Water Valley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Water Valley is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
    • Hamburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Scranton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Scranton is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
    • Bay View
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bay View is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Derby
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Eden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Armor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Armor is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armor
    • Blasdell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lackawanna
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • North Boston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • North Boston is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Boston
    • Angola-on-the-Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Angola-on-the-Lake is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angola-on-the-Lake
  • Cattaraugus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifton Heights, with the one closest to Clifton Heights listed first.
    • Gowanda
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Perrysburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Cottage
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Cottage is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage
    • Brooklyn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Persia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Persia is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
    • Otto
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • South Dayton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Yorkshire
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Yorkshire is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
    • Delevan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Delevan is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delevan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delevan <1>
    • Cattaraugus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Eddyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
    • Leon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Machias
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Chautauqua County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifton Heights, with the one closest to Clifton Heights listed first.
    • Irving
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Parcells Corners
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Parcells Corners is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parcells Corners
    • Forestville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wango
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Wango is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
    • Sheridan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Dunkirk
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunkirk is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkirk
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,701 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dunkirk <1>
    • Fredonia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifton Heights, with the one closest to Clifton Heights listed first.
    • Amherst
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Amherst is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
    • Griswold
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Griswold is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • Corfu
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifton Heights, with the one closest to Clifton Heights listed first.
    • Park Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Park Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
    • North Tonawanda
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
    • Martinsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • Wurlitzer Park Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Hoffman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
    • Black Creek Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Black Creek Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek Village
    • Saint Johnsburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Saint Johnsburg is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johnsburg
    • Bergholtz
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Bergholtz is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergholtz
    • Niagara Falls
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Pendleton Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Pendleton Center is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton Center
    • Pletchers Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Pletchers Corners is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pletchers Corners
    • Colonial Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Colonial Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Rapids
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Rapids is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapids
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifton Heights, with the one closest to Clifton Heights listed first.
    • Folsomdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
    • Harris Corners
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Java Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Curriers
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Java Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Arcade
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • North Java
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Johnsonburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • Varysburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Clifton Heights ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clifton Heights.

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 Clifton Heights - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Lakeside Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • North Evans Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Prospect Lawn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Hillcrest Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Jerusalem Corners Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Mols Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Sheldon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Howard Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (295 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.<4>

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

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

  • Lake View
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Clover Bank
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Clover Bank is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Bank
  • North Evans
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Water Valley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Water Valley is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
  • Athol Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Derby
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Eden Valley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Eden Valley is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Valley
  • Hamburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Bay View
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bay View is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
  • Eden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Big Tree
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Big Tree is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Tree
  • East Eden
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • East Eden is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Eden
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Armor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Armor is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armor
    • Blasdell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • North Boston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • North Boston is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Boston

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

Newspapers Published in Clifton Heights ...

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 312 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clifton Heights.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clifton Heights, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clifton Heights.

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 Clifton Heights:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Clifton Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Clifton Heights, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.