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 Happy Valley (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 Happy Valley. 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 Happy Valley ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Happy Valley: Happy Vly. (or less commonly used: Happy Vally. or Happy Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Happy Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Happy Valley.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Happy Valley is located in Oswego 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 Oswego County: Cayuga, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida & Onondaga.
Below are the counties that are near Happy Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Happy Valley:
- Oswego County (The home county of Happy Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Kasoag
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kasoag is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasoag
- West Amboy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- West Amboy is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amboy
- Albion Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Albion Center is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion Center
- Altmar
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Dugway
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Dugway is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dugway
- Graftons Square
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Graftons Square is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graftons Square
- Parish
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Chateaugay
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chateaugay is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chateaugay
- Orwell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Richland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gayville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gayville is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayville
- Hastings
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Mannsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ellisburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Worth Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Worth Center is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worth Center
- Lorraine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Woodville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Woodville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Belleville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Worth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Worth is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worth
- Adams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jefferson Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson Park is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Park
- Lyon Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lyon Corner is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Corner
- Adams Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Henderson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Osceola
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Osceola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Leisher Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Leisher Mill is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisher Mill
- Michigan Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Michigan Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Mills
- Mohawk Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mohawk Hill is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk Hill
- West Leyden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Parkers
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Parkers is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers
- Rector
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rector is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rector
- Barnes Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Barnes Corners is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes Corners
- New Boston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Boston is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
- Constableville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Bridgeport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Oneida Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida Valley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida Valley
- Whitelaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Whitelaw is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitelaw
- Bolivar
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Bolivar is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Chittenango
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sullivan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sullivan is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Canastota
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wampsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cottons
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cottons is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottons
- Sulphur Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Sulphur Springs has also been known as:
- Chittenango Springs
- Clockville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Camden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Elpis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Elpis is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elpis
- Jewell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jewell is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- McConnellsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- McConnellsville is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnellsville
- North Bay
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- North Bay is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bay
- Blossvale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Vienna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Vienna is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
- Sylvan Beach
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Taberg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Point Rock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Point Rock is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Rock
- Leisure Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Leisure Village is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
- Brookfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brookfield is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Onondaga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Brewerton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clay
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Euclid
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Euclid is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
- North Syracuse
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Tall Pines Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Tall Pines Village is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tall Pines Village
- Wrights Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wrights Corners is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights Corners
- Kirkville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lyncourt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lyncourt is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyncourt
- Mattydale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Minoa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- East Syracuse
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Baldwinsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Happy Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Happy Valley.
Cemeteries Near Happy Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Happy Valley.
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 Happy Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Happy Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Happy Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Madison Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Getman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- White Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Riverside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- West Amboy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Butler Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Cemetery
- The Fairview Cemetery has also been known as:
- Williamstown Cemetery
- Williamstown Fairview Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #64502 <2>
- Albion Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Old Dutch Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (277 more) ...
- Amboy Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Kinney Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Lawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Happy Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Happy Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Happy Valley, with the one closest to Happy Valley listed first.
- Kasoag
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kasoag is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasoag
- West Amboy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- West Amboy is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amboy
- Williamstown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ricard
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ricard is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricard
- Amboy Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Amboy Center is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy Center
- Dugway
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Dugway is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dugway
- North Constantia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- North Constantia is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Constantia
- Parish
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Little France
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Little France is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little France
- Morse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Morse is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse
- Gayville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gayville is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayville
- Richland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Orwell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Colosse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Colosse is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colosse
- Hastings
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Happy Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Happy Valley.
Newspapers Published in Happy Valley ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Happy Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Happy Valley, 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 Happy Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Happy Valley:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Oswego County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jefferson County
- Lewis County
- Madison County
- Oneida County
- Onondaga County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New York
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 Happy Valley, 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- Happy Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |