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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 Roanoke (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 Roanoke. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Roanoke is located in Genesee 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 Genesee County: Erie, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans & Wyoming.

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

  • Genesee County     (The home county of Roanoke)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • Stafford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Pavilion Center
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Pavilion Center is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavilion Center
    • Le Roy
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Morganville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Morganville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganville
    • Pavilion
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Fort Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Fort Hill is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Hill
    • Limerock
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Limerock is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limerock
    • South Byron
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • South Byron is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Byron
    • Batavia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Linden
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Linden is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
    • East Alexander
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • East Alexander is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Alexander
    • West Bethany
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • West Bethany is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bethany
    • Brookville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Brookville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
  • Allegany County
    • Wiscoy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Wiscoy is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscoy
  • Erie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • Crittenden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Alden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Akron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Alden Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Alden Center is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden Center
    • Akron Junction
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Akron Junction is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron Junction
    • Williston
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Looneyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Looneyville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
    • Town Line
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Porterville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Porterville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
    • Clarence Center
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Elma Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Elma Center is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elma Center
    • Elma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Wolcottsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Wolcottsburg is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolcottsburg
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • Craigs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Craigs is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs
    • Inverness
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Inverness is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
    • York
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • York is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
    • Caledonia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Cuylerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cuylerville is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuylerville
    • Leicester
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Leicester is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leicester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
      • Former names for Leicester:
      • Leister
      • Moscow
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leicester <1>
    • Pine Tavern
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Tavern is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Tavern
    • Avon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Avon is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,294 people
    • Geneseo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Morris
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sleggs Landing
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sleggs Landing is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleggs Landing
    • East Groveland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • East Groveland is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Groveland
    • Livonia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • Mumford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Belcoda
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Belcoda is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcoda
    • Riga
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Riga is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riga
    • Garbutt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Garbutt is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garbutt
    • Churchville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Clifton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Clifton is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
    • Scottsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • North Rush
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • North Rush is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Rush
    • West Rush
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • West Rush is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Rush
    • Sweden Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Sweden Center is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweden Center
    • North Chili
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • North Chili is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chili
    • Severance
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Severance is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Severance
    • Brockport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • Middleport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dysinger
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Dysinger is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysinger
    • Reynales Basin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Reynales Basin is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynales Basin
  • Ontario County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • North Bloomfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • North Bloomfield is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bloomfield
    • Richmond Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Richmond Mills is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Mills
    • West Bloomfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • West Bloomfield is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bloomfield
    • Canadice
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Canadice is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadice
    • West Canadice Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Orleans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • South Barre
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • South Barre is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Barre
    • Clarendon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Manning
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Manning is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
    • West Barre
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • West Barre is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Barre
    • Holley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Albion
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Brockville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Brockville is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockville
    • Hulberton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Hulberton is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulberton
    • Murray
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Murray is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
    • Eagle Harbor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Eagle Harbor is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Harbor
    • Gaines
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Gaines is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaines
    • Lakewood Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakewood Village is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
    • Medina
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Roanoke, with the one closest to Roanoke listed first.
    • Covington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Covington is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
    • Wyoming
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Peoria
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Peoria is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
    • Dale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Attica
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Perry Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Perry Center is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry Center
    • Warsaw
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Perry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Perry is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,457 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Perry <1>
    • Newburg
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Newburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
    • Varysburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Johnsonburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • Castile
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Roanoke ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Roanoke.

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

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

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

  • Jug City Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • East Bethany Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Pavilion Center Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Stafford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Transit Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Francis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Myrtle Street Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Maple Lawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Morganville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Oakta Valley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Maple Lawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (418 more) ...
    • Van Allen Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Old St. Marks Episcopal Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Machpelah Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)

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

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

  • Junction
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Junction is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction
  • East Bethany
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Pavilion Center
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Pavilion Center is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavilion Center
  • Stafford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Le Roy
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Morganville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Morganville is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganville
  • Pavilion
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Covington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Covington is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
  • Linwood
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Linwood is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
  • Fort Hill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Fort Hill is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Hill
  • West Bethany
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • West Bethany is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bethany
  • Linden
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Linden is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Limerock
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Limerock is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limerock
    • South Byron
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • South Byron is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Byron
    • Batavia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Roanoke ...

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 128 newspapers that have been published in the area around Roanoke.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Roanoke, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Roanoke.

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 Roanoke:

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 Roanoke, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Roanoke) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.