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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 Orleans (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 Orleans. 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 doctors and 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.

Orleans is located in Ontario 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 Ontario County: Livingston, Monroe, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne & Yates.

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

  • Ontario County     (The home county of Orleans)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Melvin Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Melvin Hill is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin Hill
    • Seneca Castle
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Clifton Springs
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Phelps
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hopewell Center
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Hopewell Center is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Center
    • Flint
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Flint is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Manchester
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Shortsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dobbins Corner
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Dobbins Corner is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbins Corner
    • West Junius
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • West Junius is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Junius
    • Geneva
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Canandaigua
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Canandaigua is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canandaigua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,152 people
      • Canandaigua has also been known as:
      • Canadaigua
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canandaigua <1>
  • Cayuga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Cayuga
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Cross Roads
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Cross Roads is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Roads
    • Union Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Oakwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Oakwood is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Aurora
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Willets
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Willets is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willets
    • Port Byron
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Scipioville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Scipioville is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scipioville
    • Auburn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Throop
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Throop is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throop
    • Black Rock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Black Rock is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Rock
    • Sherwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sherwood is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Lima
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Lima is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,008 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lima <1>
    • Livonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Foots Corners
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Foots Corners is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foots Corners
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Fairport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Mendon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Ford Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Ford Corner is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ford Corner
    • East Rochester
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • East Rochester is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rochester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,458 people
    • Penfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Pittsford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Honeoye Falls
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Webster
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Moran Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Moran Corner is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moran Corner
    • Brighton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Brighton is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
    • Henrietta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Ridgeland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Ridgeland is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeland
  • Schuyler County
  • Seneca County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Border City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Border City is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Border City
    • Waterloo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Seneca Falls
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Tyre
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Tyre is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyre
    • Kuneytown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Kuneytown is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kuneytown
    • Romulus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Canoga
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Canoga is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoga
    • East Varick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • East Varick is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Varick
    • Willard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ovid
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lodi
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Interlaken
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Interlaken is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Interlaken
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 599 people
      • Former names for Interlaken:
      • Farmer Village
      • Farmer
      • Farmerville
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Interlaken <1>
  • Steuben County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Prattsburgh
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Prattsburgh is located in Steuben County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prattsburgh
    • Catawba
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Catawba is located in Steuben County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catawba
    • Keuka
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Keuka is located in Steuben County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keuka
    • South Pulteney
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • South Pulteney is located in Steuben County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Pulteney
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Newark
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • East Palmyra
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • East Palmyra is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Palmyra
    • Mud Mills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Mud Mills is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mud Mills
    • Lyons
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Palmyra
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Yellow Mills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Yellow Mills is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Mills
    • Fairville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Fairville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairville
    • Marquart Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Marquart Village is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquart Village
    • Macedon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Marion
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Macedon Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Macedon Center is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedon Center
    • Clyde
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Yates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orleans, with the one closest to Orleans listed first.
    • Bellona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Rushville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Benton Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Benton Center is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Center
    • Angus
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Angus is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angus
    • Potter
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Potter is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter
    • Yatesville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Yatesville is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yatesville
    • Vine Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Vine Valley is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Valley
    • Penn Yan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Seneca Mills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Seneca Mills is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca Mills
    • Dresden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Keuka Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Italy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Italy is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italy

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

Cemeteries Near Orleans ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orleans.

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

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

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

  • Orleans Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Wheat Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Buchan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Clifton Springs Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Whitney Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Melvin Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Resthaven Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Francis Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Agnes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Herrington Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Benhan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (464 more) ...
    • Sand Hill Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Butcher Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Joslyn Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)

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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Orleans had a population of 302 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Seneca Castle
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Hopewell Center
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Hopewell Center is located in Ontario County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Center
  • Clifton Springs
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Phelps
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Phelps Junction
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Phelps Junction is located in Ontario County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelps Junction
  • Ennerdale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ennerdale is located in Ontario County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ennerdale
  • Flint
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Flint is located in Ontario County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
  • Manchester Center
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Manchester Center is located in Ontario County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester Center
  • Stanley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Manchester
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Shortsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Reed Corners
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Reed Corners is located in Ontario County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Corners
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Geneva
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • West Junius
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • West Junius is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Junius
    • Canandaigua
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Canandaigua is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canandaigua
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,152 people
      • Canandaigua has also been known as:
      • Canadaigua
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canandaigua <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Orleans ...

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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orleans.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orleans, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orleans.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Orleans:

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>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 Orleans, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Orleans) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.