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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 Orlando (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 Orlando. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Orlando is located in Cattaraugus 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 Cattaraugus County: Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming, McKean (PA) & Warren (PA).

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

  • Cattaraugus County     (The home county of Orlando)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orlando, with the one closest to Orlando listed first.
    • Eddyville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
    • Ellicottville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Little Valley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Otto
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Elkdale is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkdale
    • Little Rock City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Little Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Rock City
    • Great Valley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Sugartown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sugartown is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugartown
    • Cattaraugus
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Peth
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Peth is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peth
    • Brooklyn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Bird
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Kill Buck
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Allegany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orlando, with the one closest to Orlando listed first.
    • Fairview
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairview is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Cuba
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cuba is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,460 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Lyons Corners
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Lyons Corners is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons Corners
    • Rushford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Black Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • West Clarksville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • West Clarksville is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksville
    • Caneadea
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Houghton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Oramel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Oramel is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oramel
    • Belfast
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Friendship
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Chautauqua County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orlando, with the one closest to Orlando listed first.
    • Cherry Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Wango
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Wango is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
    • Parcells Corners
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Parcells Corners is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parcells Corners
    • Kennedy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Poland Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Poland Center is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poland Center
    • Ivory
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Ivory is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivory
    • Forestville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Irving
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Falconer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ross Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Ross Mills is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross Mills
    • Sinclairville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Frewsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Gerry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Erie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orlando, with the one closest to Orlando listed first.
    • Morton Corners
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Morton Corners is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corners
    • Springville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Concord
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Concord is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Wyandale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Wyandale is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandale
    • Footes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Footes is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footes
    • Shirley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Shirley is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirley
    • Boston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • North Collins
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Protection
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Protection is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protection
    • Holland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Patchin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Patchin is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchin
    • Dutchtown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dutchtown is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchtown
    • Brant
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orlando, with the one closest to Orlando listed first.
    • Arcade
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Curriers
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Java Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Java Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bliss
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • McKean County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orlando, with the one closest to Orlando listed first.
    • Tuna
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Tuna is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
    • Foster Brook
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Foster Brook is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
    • Bradford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Derrick City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Gilmore
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Gilmore is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Sawyer City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Sawyer City is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
    • Dallas City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Dallas City is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
    • Summit
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Summit is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Custer City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Degolia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Degolia is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
    • Duke Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Duke Center is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke Center
    • Rixford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Rixford is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixford
    • Eldred
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Eldred is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldred
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 754 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eldred <1>
  • Warren County (PA)
    • Sugar Run ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Sugar Run is located in Warren County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run

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

Cemeteries Near Orlando ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orlando.

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

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

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

  • Bowen Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Niles Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Sunset Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Maples Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Eddyville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Jefferson Street Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Willson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willson Cemetery
    • The Willson Cemetery has also been known as:
    • East Hill Cemetery
    • Jersey Hollow Cemetery
    • Mansfield Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2227550 <2>
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Little Valley Rural Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Annis Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Bryant Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (230 more) ...
    • Plato Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • West Hill Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • East Otto Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)

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

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

  • Eddyville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
  • Ellicottville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Little Valley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ashford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Ashford is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
  • Elkdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Elkdale is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkdale
  • East Otto
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • East Otto is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otto
  • Otto
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Great Valley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Devereaux
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Devereaux is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devereaux
  • Cattaraugus
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • West Valley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • West Valley is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Valley
  • New Albion
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Bird
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Salamanca
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Kill Buck
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Orlando. See our List of 1890's Communities around Orlando.

Newspapers Published in Orlando ...

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 153 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orlando.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orlando, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orlando.

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 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 Orlando:

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 Orlando, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Orlando) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.