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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 Syracuse (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 Syracuse. 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 southeast 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 south.

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 south 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.

Syracuse is located in Onondaga County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of New York's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Onondaga County: Cayuga, Cortland, Madison & Oswego.

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

  • Onondaga County     (The home county of Syracuse)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Syracuse, with the one closest to Syracuse listed first.
    • Lyncourt
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lyncourt have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyncourt
      • Lyncourt is located in Onondaga County
    • De Witt
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Mattydale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Galeville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Galeville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galeville
      • Galeville is located in Onondaga County
    • Solvay
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Solvay have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solvay
      • Solvay is located in Onondaga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,256 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Solvay <2>
    • Westvale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westvale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westvale
      • Westvale is located in Onondaga County
    • East Syracuse
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Syracuse have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Syracuse
      • East Syracuse is located in Onondaga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,907 people
    • Liverpool
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairmount
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • North Syracuse
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Lakeland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lakeland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland
      • Lakeland is located in Onondaga County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lakeland
      • From Syracuse to Lakeland
    • Nedrow
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nedrow have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nedrow
      • Nedrow is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nedrow <2>
    • Jamesville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Cayuga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Syracuse, with the one closest to Syracuse listed first.
    • Niles
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Sennett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • New Hope
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Weedsport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Weedsport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weedsport
      • Weedsport is located in Cayuga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,683 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weedsport <2>
    • Kelloggsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Meridian
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meridian have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
      • Meridian is located in Cayuga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 285 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Meridian <2>
    • Throop
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Melrose Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Melrose Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose Park
      • Melrose Park is located in Cayuga County
    • Auburn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Cato
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cato have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
      • Cato is located in Cayuga County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cato <2>
    • Ira
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Austin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Omro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Omro. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omro
      • Omro is located in Cayuga County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Omro
      • From Syracuse to Omro
  • Cortland County
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Syracuse, with the one closest to Syracuse listed first.
    • Bridgeport
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bridgeport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
      • Bridgeport is located in Madison County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bridgeport <2>
    • Bolivar
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bolivar have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
      • Bolivar is located in Madison County
    • Chittenango
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chittenango have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chittenango
      • Chittenango is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,823 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chittenango <2>
    • Sullivan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Sulphur Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Chittenango Falls
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Rippleton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bingley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Cazenovia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cazenovia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazenovia
      • Cazenovia is located in Madison County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,843 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cazenovia <2>
    • Cottons
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Whitelaw
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Whitelaw. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitelaw
      • Whitelaw is located in Madison County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Whitelaw
      • From Syracuse to Whitelaw
    • Union
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Union have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Union is located in Madison County
    • Canastota
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
  • Oneida County
  • Oswego County
  • Tompkins County
    • Groton City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Groton City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton City
      • Groton City is located in Tompkins County

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

Cemeteries Near Syracuse ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Syracuse.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Syracuse, with the one closest to Syracuse 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Syracuse had a population of 88,143 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Syracuse had a population of 141,229 people.

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

  • Eastwood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eastwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Eastwood is located in Onondaga County
  • De Witt
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Solvay
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Solvay have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solvay
    • Solvay is located in Onondaga County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,256 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Solvay <2>
  • East Syracuse
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Syracuse have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Syracuse
    • East Syracuse is located in Onondaga County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,907 people
  • Liverpool
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Onondaga Castle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Onondaga Castle have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onondaga Castle
    • Onondaga Castle is located in Onondaga County
  • Jamesville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Collamer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Collamer have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collamer
    • Collamer is located in Onondaga County
  • North Syracuse
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Lakeland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lakeland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland
    • Lakeland is located in Onondaga County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Lakeland
    • From Syracuse to Lakeland
  • Woodard
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodard have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodard
    • Woodard is located in Onondaga County
  • Lakeside
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lakeside have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
    • Lakeside is located in Onondaga County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Amboy
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Amboy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy
      • Amboy is located in Onondaga County
    • Howlett Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Howlett Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howlett Hill
      • Howlett Hill is located in Onondaga County
    • Cedarvale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedarvale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarvale
      • Cedarvale is located in Onondaga County

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Syracuse ...

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 220 newspapers that have been published in the area around Syracuse.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Syracuse. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Syracuse and those printed in the larger area surrounding Syracuse.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<6> of Syracuse.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Syracuse:

The official website for Syracuse: www.syracuse.ny.us/

The official website for Onondaga County: www.ongov.net/

The official website for State of New York: https://www.ny.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Syracuse, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 from Point A (ie- Syracuse) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Syracuse. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.0496, Longitude: -76.1475    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025