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 Rock City (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 Rock City. 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 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.
Rock City is located in Columbia 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 Columbia County: Litchfield (CT), Berkshire (MA), Albany, Dutchess, Greene, Rensselaer & Ulster.
Below are the counties that are near Rock City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rock City:
- Columbia County (The home county of Rock City)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- New Concord
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Concord is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Concord
- Chatham Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chatham Center is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham Center
- Chatham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Moorhouse Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Moorhouse Corner is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorhouse Corner
- Niverville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Red Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Red Rock is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Valatie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Riders Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Riders Mills is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riders Mills
- New Britain ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- New Britain is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Britain
- North Chatham
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- North Chatham is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chatham
- Ghent
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Canaan Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Canaan Center is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan Center
- Albany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Coeymans
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ravena
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Aquetuck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Aquetuck is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquetuck
- Selkirk
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Beckers Corners
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beckers Corners is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckers Corners
- South Bethlehem
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Bethlehem is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bethlehem
- Coeymans Hollow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bethlehem Center is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem Center
- Glenmont
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alcove
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Albany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Delmar
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dutchess County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Jackson Corners
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Jackson Corners is located in Dutchess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Corners
- Mount Ross
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mount Ross is located in Dutchess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Ross
- Pine Plains
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Tivoli
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Upper Red Hook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Upper Red Hook is located in Dutchess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Red Hook
- Irondale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Irondale is located in Dutchess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
- Spencer Corners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Spencer Corners is located in Dutchess County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer Corners
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Coxsackie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Athens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Medway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Medway is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medway
- Catskill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Catskill is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catskill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,815 people
- Jefferson Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jefferson Heights is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Heights
- Leeds
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Surprise
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Gayhead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Gayhead is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayhead
- South Cairo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Cairo is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cairo
- Cairo Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cairo Junction is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo Junction
- Cairo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Greenville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rensselaer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Nassau
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Brainard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Nassau
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- East Nassau is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Nassau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- East Schodack
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hoag Corners
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hoag Corners is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoag Corners
- Schodack Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Schodack Center is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schodack Center
- Schodack Landing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Castleton-on-Hudson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sliters
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sliters is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sliters
- West Stephentown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Stephentown is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Stephentown
- Wyomanock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wyomanock is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyomanock
- Best
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Best is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Best
- Saratoga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Waterford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Halfmoon Beach
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Halfmoon Beach is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfmoon Beach
- Halfmoon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Schenectady County
- Niskayuna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ulster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Malden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Malden is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malden
- Malden has also been known as:
- Malden-on-Hudson
- Quarryville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Quarryville is located in Ulster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarryville
- Saugerties
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Litchfield County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Taconic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Twin Lakes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Twin Lakes is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes
- Canaan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Wangum Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wangum Village is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wangum Village
- North Canaan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Canaan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
- Salisbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Salisbury is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,584 people
- Salisbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- East Canaan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Berkshire County (MA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Richmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Richmond is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,410 people
- West Stockbridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Stockbridge is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Stockbridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,250 people
- Shaker Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Shaker Village is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
- Stevens Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stevens Corner is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Corner
- Rockdale Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rockdale Mills is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdale Mills
- Alford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alford is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 485 people
- Glendale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glendale is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Housatonic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Housatonic is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Housatonic
- Lenox
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lenox is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,933 people
- North Egremont
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Egremont is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Egremont
- Stockbridge
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stockbridge is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockbridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,883 people
- Hancock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hancock is located in Berkshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 695 people
- Hampshire County (MA)
- Middlefield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Middlefield is located in Hampshire County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlefield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rock City, see our County-by-County Page for Rock City.
Cemeteries Near Rock City ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rock City.
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 Rock City - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rock City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- Mountain View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Chatham Rural Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lovejoy - Beebe Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- The Maples Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Shufelt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Red Rock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Valatie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Columbia County Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. James Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Spencertown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Chatham Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Prospect Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (378 more) ...
- Snyder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ghent Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Canaan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Rock City in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rock City.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rock City, with the one closest to Rock City listed first.
- New Concord
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Concord is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Concord
- East Chatham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- East Chatham is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Chatham
- Old Chatham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Chatham Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chatham Center is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham Center
- Chatham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Red Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Red Rock is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Rayville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rayville is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rayville
- Malden Bridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Niverville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Valatie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ghent
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Spencertown
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Riders Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Riders Mills is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riders Mills
- Canaan Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Canaan Center is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan Center
- Canaan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rock City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rock City.
Newspapers Published in Rock City ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rock City.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rock City, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rock City.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Rock City:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Columbia County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Albany County
- Dutchess County
- Greene County
- Rensselaer County
- Saratoga County
- Schenectady County
- Ulster County
- Litchfield County
- Berkshire County
- Hampshire 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 Rock City, 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 from Point A (ie- Rock City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |