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 Thurston (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 Thurston. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Thurston is located in Steuben 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 Steuben County: Allegany, Chemung, Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Yates, Potter (PA) & Tioga (PA).
Below are the counties that are near Thurston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thurston:
- Steuben County (The home county of Thurston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Risingville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Risingville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Risingville
- Campbell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Savona
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- East Campbell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- East Campbell is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Campbell
- Coopers Plains
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rathbone
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rathbone is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbone
- Cameron
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bath
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Addison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- West Cameron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- West Cameron is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Cameron
- Gang Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gang Mills is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gang Mills
- Allegany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Almond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Alfred
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Alfred is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfred
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,919 people
- Alfred has also been known as:
- Alfred village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alfred <1>
- Bishopville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bishopville is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishopville
- Andover
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Whitesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Independence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Independence is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Canaseraga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elm Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Elm Valley is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Valley
- Chemung County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Post Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Post Creek is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Creek
- Big Flats
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sagetown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sagetown is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagetown
- Pine Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Horseheads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Millport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pioneer Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pioneer Village is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
- Elmira Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pine City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Webb Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Webb Mills is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb Mills
- West Elmira
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- West Elmira is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Elmira
- Elmira
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Ontario County
- Naples
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Beaver Dams
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Townsend
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Townsend is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townsend
- Wayne
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Moreland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Moreland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
- Wedgewood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wedgewood is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wedgewood
- North Reading
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Reading is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Reading
- Reading Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Watkins Glen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Watkins Glen is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins Glen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,851 people
- Former names for Watkins Glen:
- Jefferson
- Salubria
- Watkins
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Watkins Glen <1>
- Montour Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Catharine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Catharine is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catharine
- Odessa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Burdett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Yates County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Barrington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Dundee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Glenora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Glenora is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenora
- Italy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Italy is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italy
- Keuka Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Himrod
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bradford County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Fassett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fassett is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fassett
- Coryland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Coryland is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coryland
- Gillett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gillett is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett
- Potter County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- North Fork
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Fork is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Elmer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elmer is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- Harrison Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Harrison Valley is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Valley
- Hector
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hector is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hector
- North Bingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Bingham is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bingham
- Tioga County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Elkland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Osceola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Osceola is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Pritchard ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Pritchard is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchard
- Lawrenceville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrenceville is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Austinburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Austinburg is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinburg
- Farmington Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Farmington Hill is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington Hill
- Knoxville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Tioga
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hammond
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hammond is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Millerton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Millerton is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Cowanesque
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cowanesque is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowanesque
- Keeneyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thurston, see our County-by-County Page for Thurston.
Cemeteries Near Thurston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thurston.
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 Thurston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thurston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Thurston Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Risingville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Aldrich Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nute Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Look Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Seamens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bonny Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cameron Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cameron Mills Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron Mills Cemetery
- The Cameron Mills Cemetery has also been known as:
- Town Line Cemetery
- Town Line Church Cemetery
- Townline Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1458110 <2>
- Jones Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Balcom Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (363 more) ...
- Old Savona Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Merrill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 in 1895, Thurston had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
- Risingville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Risingville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Risingville
- Campbell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Curtis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Curtis is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
- Savona
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Cameron
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- North Cameron is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cameron
- Cameron Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coopers Plains
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Campbell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- East Campbell is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Campbell
- Cameron
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Addison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bath
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hedgesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hedgesville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedgesville
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- South Addison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- South Addison is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Addison
- Painted Post
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Bradford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- South Bradford is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bradford
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thurston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thurston.
Newspapers Published in Thurston ...
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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thurston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thurston, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thurston.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Thurston:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Steuben County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegany County
- Chemung County
- Ontario County
- Schuyler County
- Yates County
- Bradford County
- Potter County
- Tioga 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 Thurston, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Thurston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |