RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New York >> Jefferson County >> Dexter >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
New York

The Commemorative Quarter for New York





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 Dexter (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 Dexter. 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.

Dexter is located in Jefferson County.

To see how the shape of New York's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Jefferson County: Lewis, Oswego & Saint Lawrence.

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

  • Jefferson County     (The home county of Dexter)
  • Lewis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dexter, with the one closest to Dexter listed first.
    • Barnes Corners
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Copenhagen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Copenhagen have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copenhagen
      • Copenhagen is located in Lewis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 767 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Copenhagen <2>
    • New Boston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Boston. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
      • New Boston is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Boston
      • From Dexter to New Boston
    • Denmark
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Denmark. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
      • Denmark is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Denmark
      • From Dexter to Denmark
    • Harrisburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Harrisburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
      • Harrisburg is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Harrisburg
      • From Dexter to Harrisburg
    • Rector
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Briggs Corner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Parkers
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Parkers. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers
      • Parkers is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Parkers
      • From Dexter to Parkers
    • Castorland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Castorland have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castorland
      • Castorland is located in Lewis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Castorland <2>
    • Naumburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Naumburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naumburg
      • Naumburg is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Naumburg
      • From Dexter to Naumburg
    • Forest City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Forest City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Forest City is located in Lewis County
  • Oswego County
  • Saint Lawrence County

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

Cemeteries Near Dexter ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dexter.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Dexter Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Muskalonge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Muskalonge Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Muskalonge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Brownville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Luther Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Luther Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Luther Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ferry Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ferry Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ferry Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pettit Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pettit Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pettit Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Taylor Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Taylor Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Stevens Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Stevens Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Stevens Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Stone Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Stone Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Stone Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Military Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Military Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Military Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Freeman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Freeman Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Freeman Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fields Settlement Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fields Settlement Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fields Settlement Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (154 more) ...
    • Graves Hill Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Graves Hill Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Graves Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Pt. Salubrious Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pt. Salubrious Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pt. Salubrious Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Ingerson Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ingerson Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ingerson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Dexter had a population of 737 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Dexter had a population of 980 people.

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

  • Limerick
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Brownville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • East Hounsfield
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Hounsfield have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hounsfield
    • East Hounsfield is located in Jefferson County
  • Pillar Point
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Alverson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Sackets Harbor
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sackets Harbor have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sackets Harbor
    • Sackets Harbor is located in Jefferson County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,376 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sackets Harbor <2>
  • Chaumont
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Rices
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rices have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rices
    • Rices is located in Jefferson County
  • Watertown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Stone Mills
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stone Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Mills
    • Stone Mills is located in Jefferson County
  • Point Peninsula
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Smithville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smithville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
    • Smithville is located in Jefferson County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Dexter ...

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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dexter.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dexter, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dexter.

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 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 Dexter:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Dexter. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Jefferson County: www.co.jefferson.ny.us/

The official website for State of New York: https://www.ny.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<4>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.
<5>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 Dexter, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Dexter) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Dexter. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.0079, Longitude: -76.0445    









 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025