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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 Forest Beach (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 Forest Beach. 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 Forest Beach ...

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 Forest Beach: Forest Bch.

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

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Forest Beach is located in Onondaga 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 Onondaga County: Cayuga, Cortland, Madison & Oswego.

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

  • Onondaga County     (The home county of Forest Beach)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Beach, with the one closest to Forest Beach listed first.
    • Brewerton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Clay
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • North Syracuse
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • North Syracuse is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Syracuse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,595 people
    • Euclid
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Euclid is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
    • Mattydale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Lyncourt
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Lyncourt is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyncourt
    • Galeville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Galeville is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galeville
    • Liverpool
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • East Syracuse
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • East Syracuse is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Syracuse
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,907 people
    • Eastwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Eastwood is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Minoa
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Minoa is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minoa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,414 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Minoa <1>
    • Lakeland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakeland is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland
  • Cayuga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Beach, with the one closest to Forest Beach listed first.
    • Meridian
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Ira
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Ira is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
    • Cato
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Weedsport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Sennett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • North Victory
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • North Victory is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Victory
    • North Sterling
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • North Sterling is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sterling
    • Sterling Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Sterling Valley is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling Valley
    • Victory
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Victory is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victory
    • Port Byron
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Port Byron is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Byron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,181 people
      • Former name for Port Byron:
      • Bucksville
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Port Byron <1>
    • Throop
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Throop is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throop
  • Cortland County
    • Cummings Crossing
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Cummings Crossing is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummings Crossing
  • Lewis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Beach, with the one closest to Forest Beach listed first.
    • Osceola
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Osceola is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
    • Leisher Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Leisher Mill is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisher Mill
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Beach, with the one closest to Forest Beach listed first.
    • Bridgeport
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bolivar
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bolivar is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
    • Whitelaw
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Whitelaw is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitelaw
    • Chittenango
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sullivan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sullivan is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Sulphur Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Sulphur Springs is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
      • Sulphur Springs has also been known as:
      • Chittenango Springs
    • Oneida Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Oneida Valley is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida Valley
    • Canastota
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Cottons
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cottons is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottons
    • Chittenango Falls
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Chittenango Falls is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chittenango Falls
    • Clockville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Wampsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oneida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Beach, with the one closest to Forest Beach listed first.
    • Elpis
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Elpis is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elpis
    • Jewell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Jewell is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
    • North Bay
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • North Bay is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bay
    • Sylvan Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Vienna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Vienna is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
    • Camden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • McConnellsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • McConnellsville is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnellsville
    • Blossvale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Agnes Corners
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Agnes Corners is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnes Corners
    • Humaston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Humaston is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humaston
    • Leisure Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Leisure Village is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
    • Oneida Castle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Oneida Castle is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida Castle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
  • Oswego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Beach, with the one closest to Forest Beach listed first.
    • West Monroe
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • West Monroe is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
    • Constantia
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Central Square
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Caughdenoy
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Caughdenoy is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caughdenoy
    • Mallory
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Gayville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gayville is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayville
    • Nicholsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Nicholsville is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholsville
    • Sand Ridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Sand Ridge is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
    • Pennellville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cleveland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Phoenix
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Hastings
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Forest Beach ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forest Beach.

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 Forest Beach - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Toad Harbor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Shepards Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • McAllister Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Cicero Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cicero Center Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Terpenning Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Trinity Episcopal Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Fancher Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • West Monroe Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Pine Plains Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Ingersoll Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (406 more) ...
    • Hillside Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • North Syracuse Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Taft Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)

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>

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

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

  • Brewerton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Cicero
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cicero Center
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cicero Center is located in Onondaga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cicero Center
  • Clay
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Constantia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • West Monroe
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • West Monroe is located in Oswego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
  • Central Square
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Euclid
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Euclid is located in Onondaga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
  • North Syracuse
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • North Syracuse is located in Onondaga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Syracuse
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,595 people
  • Caughdenoy
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Caughdenoy is located in Oswego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caughdenoy
  • Woodard
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodard is located in Onondaga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodard
  • Bridgeport
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Hastings Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Hastings Center is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hastings Center
    • Gayville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Gayville is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayville
    • Mallory
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Forest Beach ...

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 170 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forest Beach.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forest Beach, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Forest Beach.

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 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 Forest Beach:

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