RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New York >> Erie County >> Colden >> 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 Colden (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 Colden. 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.

Colden 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 Colden. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colden:

  • Erie County     (The home county of Colden)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colden, with the one closest to Colden listed first.
    • Boston
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • West Falls
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • West Falls is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Falls
    • Patchin
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Patchin is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchin
    • Footes
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Footes is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footes
    • Griffins Mills
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Griffins Mills is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Mills
    • Jewettville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Jewettville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewettville
    • North Boston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • North Boston is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Boston
    • Ellicott
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Ellicott is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellicott
    • Holland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Concord
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Concord is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Wyandale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Wyandale is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandale
    • Armor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Armor is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armor
  • Allegany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colden, with the one closest to Colden listed first.
    • Fairview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairview is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Rushford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hume
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Houghton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Cattaraugus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colden, with the one closest to Colden listed first.
    • Yorkshire
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Yorkshire is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
    • Brooklyn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Delevan
      (14 miles [22.5 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>
    • Gowanda
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Elton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
    • Machias
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Bird
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Perrysburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Otto
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Eddyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
    • Persia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Persia is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
    • Cattaraugus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Chautauqua County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colden, with the one closest to Colden listed first.
    • Irving
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Parcells Corners
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Parcells Corners is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parcells Corners
    • Silver Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Wango
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Wango is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
    • Forestville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Sheridan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colden, with the one closest to Colden listed first.
    • Amherst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Amherst is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
    • Griswold
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Griswold is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • Corfu
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sawens
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Sawens is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
    • Alexander
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Brookville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Brookville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
    • Indian Falls
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Falls is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Falls
    • Linden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Linden is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colden, with the one closest to Colden listed first.
    • Park Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Park Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
    • North Tonawanda
      (28 miles [45.1 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
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • Wurlitzer Park Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Hoffman
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colden, with the one closest to Colden listed first.
    • Java Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Curriers
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Java Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Harris Corners
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Arcade
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • North Java
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Folsomdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
    • Johnsonburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • Varysburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Smiths Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner
    • Bliss
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Attica
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Colden ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colden.

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

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

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

  • St. Paul Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cobble Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Partridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Sibley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Maple Wood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Pratham Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Neischell Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Griffins Mills Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Holland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Humphrey Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (317 more) ...
    • Concord Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Fairview Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Mols Hill Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)

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 Colden had a population of 420 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Boston
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Glenwood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • West Falls
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • West Falls is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Falls
  • Patchin
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Patchin is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchin
  • Griffins Mills
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Griffins Mills is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Mills
  • Jewettville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jewettville is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewettville
  • North Boston
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • North Boston is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Boston
  • New Oregon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • New Oregon is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Oregon
  • East Concord
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Ellicott
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Ellicott is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellicott
  • Clarksburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Clarksburg is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksburg
  • Wyandale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Wyandale is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandale
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Concord
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Concord is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Holland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • South Wales
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Colden ...

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 260 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colden.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Colden, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Colden.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Colden:

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 Colden, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Colden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.