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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 West Shelby (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 Shelby. 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 Shelby ...

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 Shelby: W. Shelby

You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Shelby. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Shelby.

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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 Shelby is located in Orleans 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 Orleans County: Genesee, Monroe & Niagara.

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

  • Orleans County     (The home county of West Shelby)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Shelby, with the one closest to West Shelby listed first.
    • Lakewood Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakewood Village is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
    • Medina
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jeddo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Jeddo is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
    • West Barre
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • West Barre is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Barre
    • Lyndonville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Eagle Harbor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Eagle Harbor is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Harbor
    • Albion
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Kenyonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Kenyonville is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyonville
    • South Barre
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • South Barre is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Barre
    • Gaines
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Gaines is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaines
    • Shadigee
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Shadigee is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadigee
    • Kuckville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kuckville is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kuckville
  • Erie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Shelby, with the one closest to West Shelby listed first.
    • Akron
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Akron Junction
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Akron Junction is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akron Junction
    • Wolcottsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Wolcottsburg is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolcottsburg
    • Crittenden
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Clarence Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Swormville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Swormville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swormville
    • Alden Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Alden Center is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden Center
    • Looneyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Looneyville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looneyville
    • Alden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Harris Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Harris Hill is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Hill
    • Bowmansville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Getzville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Shelby, with the one closest to West Shelby listed first.
    • Alabama
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Alabama is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama
    • Basom
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Wheatville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wheatville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatville
    • Indian Falls
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Indian Falls is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Falls
    • North Pembroke
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • North Pembroke is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pembroke
    • Oakfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Corfu
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Elba
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Elba is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 627 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elba <1>
    • Ridgewood Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ridgewood Village is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
    • Bushville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bushville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushville
    • Sawens
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Sawens is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
    • Batavia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Shelby, with the one closest to West Shelby listed first.
    • Redman Corners
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Redman Corners is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redman Corners
    • Sweden Center
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Sweden Center is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweden Center
    • Brockport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Clarkson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Hamlin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Churchville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Otis
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Otis is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
    • Riga
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Riga is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riga
    • Adams Basin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Hinkleyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Hinkleyville is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkleyville
    • North Hamlin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • North Hamlin is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hamlin
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Shelby, with the one closest to West Shelby listed first.
    • Middleport
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Reynales Basin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Reynales Basin is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynales Basin
    • Johnson Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Johnson Creek is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Creek
    • Dysinger
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Dysinger is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysinger
    • Gasport
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hartland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hartland is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
    • Millers
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Millers is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers
    • Rapids
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rapids is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapids
    • North Hartland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • North Hartland is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartland
    • Ridgewood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Lockport
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Raymond
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Raymond is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Shelby, with the one closest to West Shelby listed first.
    • Attica
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Folsomdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
    • Harris Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Dale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Varysburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Wyoming
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnsonburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • Covington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Covington is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington

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

Cemeteries Near West Shelby ...

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

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

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

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

  • Weatherwax Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Letts Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Ketchem Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Fletcher Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Shelby Center Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • North Shelby Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Alabama Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Levalley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Swart Culver Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • St. Stephens Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Gilbert Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (338 more) ...

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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that West Shelby had a population of 53 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Shelby Basin
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Shelby Basin is located in Orleans County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby Basin
  • Alabama
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Alabama is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama
  • Middleport
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Medina
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Wolcottsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Wolcottsville is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolcottsville
  • East Shelby
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • East Shelby is located in Orleans County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Shelby
  • Wheatville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Wheatville is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatville
  • Millville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Millville is located in Orleans County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
  • Reynales Basin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Reynales Basin is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynales Basin
  • McNalls
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • McNalls is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNalls
  • Jeddo
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jeddo is located in Orleans County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
  • Dysinger
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Dysinger is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysinger
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • South Alabama
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • South Alabama is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Alabama
    • Johnson Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Johnson Creek is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Creek
    • Ridgeway
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Ridgeway is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeway

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

Newspapers Published in West Shelby ...

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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Shelby.

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

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 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 Shelby:

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>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 Shelby, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- West Shelby) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.