RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New York >> Erie County >> West Alden >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 West Alden (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 West Alden. 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 West Alden ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for West Alden: W. Alden

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 doctors and 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.

West Alden is located in Erie 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 Erie County: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara & Wyoming.

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

  • Erie County     (The home county of West Alden)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Alden, with the one closest to West Alden listed first.
    • Alden
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Alden Center
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Alden Center is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden Center
    • Town Line
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Looneyville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Looneyville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
    • Crittenden
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Williston
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Elma
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Akron Junction
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Akron Junction is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron Junction
    • Porterville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Porterville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
    • Elma Center
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Elma Center is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elma Center
    • Lancaster
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Bowmansville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Depew
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Cattaraugus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Alden, with the one closest to West Alden listed first.
    • Yorkshire
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Yorkshire is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
    • Delevan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Delevan is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delevan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delevan <1>
    • Elton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Alden, with the one closest to West Alden listed first.
    • Corfu
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Griswold
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Griswold is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • Sawens
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Sawens is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
    • Indian Falls
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Falls is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Falls
    • Alexander
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Basom
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • North Pembroke
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • North Pembroke is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pembroke
    • Amherst
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Amherst is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
    • Brookville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Brookville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
    • Alabama
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Alabama is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama
    • Bushville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bushville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushville
    • Ridgewood Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Ridgewood Village is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
    • East Alexander
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • East Alexander is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Alexander
  • Livingston County
    • Craigs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Craigs is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Alden, with the one closest to West Alden listed first.
    • Rapids
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Rapids is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapids
    • Dysinger
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Dysinger is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysinger
    • Raymond
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Raymond is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
    • Park Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Park Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
    • Hoffman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
    • Martinsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • North Tonawanda
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
    • Pendleton Center
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Pendleton Center is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton Center
    • South Lockport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • South Lockport is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lockport
    • Wurlitzer Park Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Gasport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Lockport Junction
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lockport Junction is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockport Junction
    • Lockport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Orleans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Alden, with the one closest to West Alden listed first.
    • Lakewood Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Lakewood Village is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
    • West Barre
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • West Barre is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Barre
    • Medina
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Jeddo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Jeddo is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
    • South Barre
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Barre is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Barre
    • Eagle Harbor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Eagle Harbor is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Harbor
    • Albion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lyndonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Manning
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Manning is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Alden, with the one closest to West Alden listed first.
    • Folsomdale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
    • Harris Corners
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Attica
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Varysburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Java Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Johnsonburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • North Java
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Dale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Java Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Curriers
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Wyoming
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Smiths Corner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner
    • Warsaw
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near West Alden ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Alden.

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 West Alden - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Alden Evergreen Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Alden Town Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • St. John the Baptist Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. John the Baptist Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. John the Baptist Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Alden Center.
    • The St. John the Baptist Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. John the Baptist RC Church Ceemtery
    • St. Johns Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2168347 <2>
  • German Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Alden Union Free Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Marilla Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Cowlesville Village Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Crittenden Rural Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. John's RC Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Patrick's RC Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (397 more) ...
    • St. Adalbert's Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Folsomdale Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Old Towne Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that West Alden had a population of 148 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Alden Center
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Alden Center is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden Center
  • Alden
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Town Line
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Marilla
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wende
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Wende is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wende
  • Millgrove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Millgrove is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millgrove
  • Looneyville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Looneyville is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
  • Williston
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Cowlesville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Crittenden
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • South Newstead
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • South Newstead is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Newstead
  • Folsomdale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
  • Continue List   (21 more) ...
    • Fargo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fargo is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fargo
    • East Lancaster
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • East Lancaster is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lancaster
    • Elma
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in West Alden ...

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 265 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Alden.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Alden, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Alden.

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 helpful 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 West Alden:

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 West Alden, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Alden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.