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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 Laurens (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 Laurens. 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 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.

Laurens is located in Otsego 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 Otsego County: Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery & Schoharie.

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

  • Otsego County     (The home county of Laurens)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • Mount Vision
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • West End
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • West End is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
    • West Oneonta
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • West Oneonta is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oneonta
    • Oneonta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Portlandville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Lena
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Lena is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
    • Colliersville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Welcome
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Welcome is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
    • Milford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Morris
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Hartwick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Hartwick Seminary
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hartwick Seminary is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick Seminary
    • Garrattsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Chenango County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • New Berlin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Upton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lathams Corners
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Lathams Corners is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lathams Corners
    • Button City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Button City is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Button City
    • Columbus
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Columbus is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
    • East Guilford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • East Guilford is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Guilford
    • Guilford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Norwich
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Sherburne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Yaleville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Yaleville is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yaleville
    • Haynes
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Haynes is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
    • North Norwich
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • North Norwich is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Norwich
    • Bainbridge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • North Franklin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • North Franklin is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Franklin
    • Davenport Center
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Franklin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Shackport
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Shackport is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shackport
    • Simpsonville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Simpsonville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsonville
    • North Kortright
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • North Kortright is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Kortright
    • Merrickville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Merrickville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrickville
    • Sidney Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Mundale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Mundale is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundale
    • Bloomville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Delhi
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Delhi is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,871 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delhi <1>
    • Harpersfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Sidney
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Herkimer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • West Winfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Cullen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Cullen is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
    • South Columbia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • South Columbia is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Columbia
    • Chepachet
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Chepachet is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepachet
    • Millers Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Millers Mills is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Mills
    • Cedarville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Cedarville is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
    • Deck
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Deck is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deck
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • Brookfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • South Hamilton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • South Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hamilton
    • East Hamilton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • East Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hamilton
    • Earlville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hamilton Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamilton Center is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Center
    • Hamilton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Randallsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Randallsville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randallsville
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • Buel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Buel is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buel
    • Sprout Brook
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Oneida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • Bridgewater
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • North Bridgewater
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • North Bridgewater is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bridgewater
    • Pine Village Estates
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Pine Village Estates is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village Estates
    • Stockwell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Stockwell is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockwell
    • Cassville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Sangerfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Schoharie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurens, with the one closest to Laurens listed first.
    • Jefferson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Summit
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Summit is located in Schoharie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,081 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Summit <1>
    • South Jefferson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • South Jefferson is located in Schoharie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jefferson
    • Beards Hollow
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Beards Hollow is located in Schoharie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beards Hollow
    • Richmondville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Seward
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Seward is located in Schoharie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seward
    • Janesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Janesville is located in Schoharie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janesville
    • Leesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Leesville is located in Schoharie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
    • Warnerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Sharon Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Laurens ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Laurens.

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

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

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

  • Elm Row Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Laurens Village Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Babcock Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Butts Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Cook Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Tiffany Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Vision Methodist Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Mt. Vision Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Vision Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Strait Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (408 more) ...
    • Hathaway Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Otsdawa Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Plains Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Laurens had a population of 255 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Laurens had a population of 242 people.

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

  • Mount Vision
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • West Oneonta
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • West Oneonta is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oneonta
  • West Laurens
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • West Laurens is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Laurens
  • Otsdawa
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Otsdawa is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otsdawa
  • Oneonta
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Colliersville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Portlandville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • South Hartwick
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • South Hartwick is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hartwick
  • Lena
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Lena is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
  • New Lisbon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • New Lisbon is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lisbon
  • Welcome
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Welcome is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
  • Maple Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Maple Grove is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • West Davenport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • West Davenport is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Davenport
    • Milford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Morris
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Laurens ...

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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Laurens.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Laurens, 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 Laurens.

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 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 Laurens:

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 Laurens, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Laurens) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.