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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 South Vestal (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 South Vestal. 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.

Name Variations for South Vestal ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for South Vestal: S. Vestal

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 and doctors 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.

South Vestal is located in Broome 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 Broome County: Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Tioga, Susquehanna (PA) & Wayne (PA).

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

  • Broome County     (The home county of South Vestal)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Hawleyton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Hawleyton is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyton
    • Vestal
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Endicott
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Willow Point
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Willow Point is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Point
    • Endwell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Binghamton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Johnson City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Conklin Center
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Conklin Center is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Center
    • Conklin Station
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Conklin Station is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Station
    • Conklin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Corbettsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Kirkwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Port Dickinson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Port Dickinson is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Dickinson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,510 people
  • Chemung County
    • Owens Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Owens Mills is located in Chemung County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owens Mills
  • Chenango County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Greene
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Nineveh Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Nineveh Junction is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nineveh Junction
    • Smithville Flats
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Afton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Cortland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Harford Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Harford Mills is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harford Mills
    • Lapeer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Lapeer is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapeer
    • Marathon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Tioga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Apalachin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Campville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Campville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campville
    • South Owego
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • South Owego is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Owego
    • Gaskill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Gaskill is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskill
    • Hullsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hullsville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hullsville
    • Owego
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • East Nichols
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • East Nichols is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Nichols
    • Newark Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lounsberry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Lounsberry is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lounsberry
    • Ketchumville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Ketchumville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchumville
    • Weltonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Weltonville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weltonville
    • Nichols
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Hamar Estates
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamar Estates is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamar Estates
  • Tompkins County
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Caroline Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Caroline Center is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroline Center
    • White Church
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • White Church is located in Tompkins County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Church
  • Bradford County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Warren Center
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Warren Center is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Center
    • South Warren
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • South Warren is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Warren
    • West Warren
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • West Warren is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warren
    • Le Raysville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Le Raysville is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Raysville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 271 people
    • Potterville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Potterville is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potterville
    • North Orwell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • North Orwell is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orwell
    • South Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • South Hill is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hill
    • Allis Hollow
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Allis Hollow is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allis Hollow
    • Herrickville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Herrickville is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrickville
    • Rome
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Rome is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 400 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rome <1>
    • Bumpville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bumpville is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpville
    • Vawter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Vawter is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vawter
    • Limehill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Limehill is located in Bradford County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limehill
  • Susquehanna County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Choconut
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Choconut is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choconut
    • Brackney
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Friendsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Little Meadows
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Forest Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Forest Lake is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake
    • Lawsville Center
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lawsville Center is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsville Center
    • Great Bend
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Hallstead
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Hallstead is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallstead
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,195 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hallstead <1>
    • Fairdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Fairdale is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
    • Montrose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Montrose is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,464 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Montrose <1>
    • South Montrose
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Heart Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Heart Lake is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heart Lake
    • Tiffany
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Tiffany is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiffany
  • Wayne County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Starrucca
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Sherman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Sherman is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Wrighter Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wrighter Corner is located in Wayne County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrighter Corner
  • Wyoming County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from South Vestal, with the one closest to South Vestal listed first.
    • Avery
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Avery is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
    • Laceyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Skinners Eddy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Skinners Eddy is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinners Eddy
    • Lemon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lemon is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemon
    • Meshoppen
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Lake Carey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Lake Carey is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Carey
    • Nicholson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mehoopany Station
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Mehoopany Station is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehoopany Station
    • Jenningsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Jenningsville is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenningsville
    • Marcy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Marcy is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcy
    • Vosburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Vosburg is located in Wyoming County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vosburg

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

Cemeteries Near South Vestal ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Vestal.

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 South Vestal - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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.<4>

While we didn't find South Vestal in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of South Vestal.

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

  • Choconut
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Choconut is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choconut
  • Brackney
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Hawleyton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Hawleyton is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyton
  • Tracy Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Tracy Creek is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy Creek
  • Saint Joseph
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Saint Joseph is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
  • Little Meadows
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Friendsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Willow Point
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Willow Point is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Point
  • Conklin Forks
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Conklin Forks is located in Broome County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Forks
  • Binghamton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • South Apalachin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • South Apalachin is located in Tioga County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Apalachin
  • Warrenham
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Warrenham is located in Bradford County (PA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenham
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Stella
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Stella is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • Apalachin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Forest Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Forest Lake is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake

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

Newspapers Published in South Vestal ...

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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Vestal.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Vestal, 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 South Vestal.

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 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 South Vestal:

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>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- South Vestal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 South Vestal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.