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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 Foster (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 Foster. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Foster is located in Tioga 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 Tioga County: Broome, Chemung, Cortland, Tompkins, Bradford (PA) & Susquehanna (PA).

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

  • Tioga County     (The home county of Foster)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Gaskill
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Gaskill is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskill
    • Hullsville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hullsville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hullsville
    • Campville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Campville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campville
    • Apalachin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Owego
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Newark Valley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Weltonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Weltonville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weltonville
    • South Owego
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • South Owego is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Owego
    • Hamar Estates
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamar Estates is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamar Estates
    • West Newark
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • West Newark is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Newark
    • Ketchumville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ketchumville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchumville
    • Lounsberry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lounsberry is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lounsberry
  • Broome County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Endicott
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Vestal
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Endwell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Maine
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Maine is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine
    • Willow Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Willow Point is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Point
    • Johnson City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • New Ireland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • New Ireland is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Ireland
    • West Chenango
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • West Chenango is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chenango
    • Glen Aubrey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Binghamton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Glen Castle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Glen Castle is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Castle
    • Hinmans Corners
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Hinmans Corners is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinmans Corners
  • Chemung County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Van Etten
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Owens Mills
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Owens Mills is located in Chemung County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owens Mills
    • Chemung
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Erin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Chenango County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Greene
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Smithville Flats
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Nineveh Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Nineveh Junction is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nineveh Junction
    • Adams Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Adams Corner is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
  • Cortland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Harford Mills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Harford Mills is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harford Mills
    • Harford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Lapeer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Lapeer is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapeer
    • Marathon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Messengerville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Messengerville is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Messengerville
  • Tompkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Caroline Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Caroline Center is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroline Center
    • White Church
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • White Church is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Church
    • Slaterville Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Besemer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Besemer is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Besemer
    • Danby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Danby is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danby
    • West Danby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • West Danby is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Danby
    • Dryden
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • East Ithaca
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • East Ithaca is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Ithaca
    • Forest Home
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest Home is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Home
    • Newfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • South Hill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • South Hill is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hill
    • Varna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Varna is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varna
  • Bradford County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Warren Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Warren Center is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Center
    • West Warren
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • West Warren is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warren
    • South Warren
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • South Warren is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Warren
    • Potterville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Potterville is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potterville
    • North Orwell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • North Orwell is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orwell
    • Bumpville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bumpville is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpville
    • Vawter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Vawter is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vawter
    • Le Raysville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Le Raysville is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Raysville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 271 people
    • South Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • South Hill is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hill
    • Allis Hollow
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Allis Hollow is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allis Hollow
    • Rome
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Rome is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rome <1>
    • Sayre
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Sayre is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayre
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,338 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sayre <1>
  • Susquehanna County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Little Meadows
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Choconut
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Choconut is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choconut
    • Brackney
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Friendsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Forest Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest Lake is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake
    • Lawsville Center
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lawsville Center is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsville Center
    • Rushville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Rushville is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
    • Fairdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairdale is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Great Bend
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Hallstead
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Hallstead is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallstead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,195 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hallstead <1>
    • Montrose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Montrose is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,464 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Montrose <1>
    • Heart Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Heart Lake is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heart Lake

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

Cemeteries Near Foster ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Foster.

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

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

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

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 Foster in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Foster.

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

  • Campville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Campville is located in Tioga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campville
  • Apalachin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Union Center
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Center is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Center
  • Flemingville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Flemingville is located in Tioga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemingville
  • Owego
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Maine
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Maine is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine
  • South Apalachin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • South Apalachin is located in Tioga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Apalachin
  • Newark Valley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Weltonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Weltonville is located in Tioga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weltonville
  • South Owego
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • South Owego is located in Tioga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Owego
  • Tracy Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Tracy Creek is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy Creek
  • Willow Point
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Willow Point is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Point
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • East Maine
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • East Maine is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Maine
    • Catatonk
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Catatonk is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catatonk
    • Little Meadows
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Foster ...

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 110 newspapers that have been published in the area around Foster.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Foster, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Foster.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Foster:

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