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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 Savannah (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 Savannah. 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.

Savannah is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Cayuga, Monroe, Ontario & Seneca.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Savannah)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • South Butler
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • South Butler is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Butler
    • Clyde
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Wolcott
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Wayne Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Wayne Center is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne Center
    • Lyons
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Furnace Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Furnace Village is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Village
    • Red Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Huron
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Huron is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • South Sodus
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • South Sodus is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sodus
    • York
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • York is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
    • North Huron
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • North Huron is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Huron
    • Mud Mills
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Mud Mills is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mud Mills
    • Fairville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Fairville is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairville
  • Cayuga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Port Byron
      (7 miles [11.3 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>
    • Weedsport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Victory
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Victory is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victory
    • Cayuga
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cato
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Throop
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Throop is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throop
    • Meridian
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Sennett
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cross Roads
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Cross Roads is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Roads
    • Auburn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Oakwood is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
    • Ira
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ira is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
    • North Victory
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • North Victory is located in Cayuga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Victory
  • Onondaga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Jordan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Elbridge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Plainville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jacks Reef
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Jacks Reef is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacks Reef
    • Mottville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Lysander
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lysander is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lysander
    • Halfway
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Halfway is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Skaneateles
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Memphis
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Jacksonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Little Utica
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Little Utica is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Utica
    • Marcellus Falls
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Marcellus Falls is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcellus Falls
    • Marcellus
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
  • Ontario County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Thompson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Thompson is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
    • West Junius
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • West Junius is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Junius
    • Dobbins Corner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dobbins Corner is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbins Corner
    • Phelps
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Geneva
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Melvin Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Melvin Hill is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin Hill
    • Clifton Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Port Gibson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Billsboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Billsboro is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billsboro
    • Seneca Castle
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Flint
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Flint is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
    • Hall
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hopewell Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Hopewell Center is located in Ontario County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Center
  • Oswego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Hannibal
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bowens Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bowens Corners is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowens Corners
    • Fairdale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairdale is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • South Granby
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Granby is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Granby
    • Granby Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Granby Center is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby Center
    • Fulton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Hinmansville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hinmansville is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinmansville
    • Southwest Oswego
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Southwest Oswego is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest Oswego
    • Furniss
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Furniss is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furniss
    • Phoenix
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Ingalls Crossing
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Ingalls Crossing is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalls Crossing
    • Minetto
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oswego Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Oswego Center is located in Oswego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego Center
  • Seneca County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Tyre
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Tyre is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyre
    • Seneca Falls
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Waterloo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Canoga
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Canoga is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canoga
    • Kuneytown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Kuneytown is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kuneytown
    • Border City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Border City is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Border City
    • East Varick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • East Varick is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Varick
    • Romulus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Ovid
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Willard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Kidders
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Kidders is located in Seneca County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kidders
  • Yates County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Savannah, with the one closest to Savannah listed first.
    • Bellona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Angus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Angus is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angus
    • Dresden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Benton Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Benton Center is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Center
    • Seneca Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Seneca Mills is located in Yates County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Savannah ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Savannah.

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

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

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

  • Wiley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Herrington Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Wilsey Farm Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Lockpit Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Harvey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Crusoe Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Ferris Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Montezuma Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Salt Road Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Butler - Savannah Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Aurand Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Aurand of Shepards Corners Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (444 more) ...
    • Tyre City Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Montezuma Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • McCloud Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)

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 Savannah had a population of 505 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Fox Ridge
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Fox Ridge is located in Cayuga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fox Ridge
  • Montezuma
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • South Butler
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • South Butler is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Butler
  • Tyre
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Tyre is located in Seneca County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyre
  • Spring Lake
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Spring Lake is located in Cayuga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
  • Clyde
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Conquest
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Conquest is located in Cayuga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conquest
  • Port Byron
    (7 miles [11.3 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>
  • Emerson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Emerson is located in Cayuga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson
  • Butler Center
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Butler Center is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler Center
  • Marengo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Marengo is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
  • Fosterville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Fosterville is located in Cayuga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Rose
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Weedsport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Lock Berlin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Lock Berlin is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lock Berlin

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Savannah ...

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 76 newspapers that have been published in the area around Savannah.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Savannah. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Savannah and those printed in the larger area surrounding Savannah.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<4> of Savannah.

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 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 Savannah:

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 Savannah, 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- Savannah) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.