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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 Valley (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 Valley. 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 Valley ...

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 Valley: W. Valley

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

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.

West Valley is located in Cattaraugus 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 Cattaraugus County: Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Wyoming, McKean (PA) & Warren (PA).

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

  • Cattaraugus County     (The home county of West Valley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Valley, with the one closest to West Valley listed first.
    • Bird
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Machias
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Brooklyn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Elton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
    • Delevan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Ellicottville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Franklinville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Eddyville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
    • Yorkshire
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Yorkshire is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
    • Sugartown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Sugartown is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugartown
    • Otto
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Great Valley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Allegany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Valley, with the one closest to West Valley listed first.
    • Fairview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Fairview is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Rushford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Lyons Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lyons Corners is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons Corners
    • Black Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Cuba
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cuba is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,460 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
    • Caneadea
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Houghton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Hume
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Oramel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Oramel is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oramel
    • Belfast
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Fillmore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • West Clarksville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • West Clarksville is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksville
  • Chautauqua County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Valley, with the one closest to West Valley listed first.
    • Wango
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Wango is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
    • Parcells Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Parcells Corners is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parcells Corners
    • Cherry Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Irving
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Forestville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Silver Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Kennedy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Erie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Valley, with the one closest to West Valley listed first.
    • Springville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Morton Corners
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Morton Corners is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton Corners
    • Concord
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Concord is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Footes
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Footes is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Footes
    • Wyandale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Wyandale is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandale
    • Protection
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Protection is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protection
    • Holland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Dutchtown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dutchtown is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchtown
    • Boston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Patchin
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Patchin is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchin
    • Shirley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Shirley is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirley
    • West Falls
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • West Falls is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Falls
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Valley, with the one closest to West Valley listed first.
    • Arcade
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Curriers
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Java Center
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Java Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bliss
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • North Java
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Smiths Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner
    • Pike
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Harris Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Hardys
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hardys is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardys
    • East Koy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • East Koy is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Koy
    • Johnsonburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
  • McKean County (PA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Valley, with the one closest to West Valley listed first.
    • Tuna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Tuna is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
    • Derrick City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Foster Brook
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Foster Brook is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
    • Gilmore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Gilmore is located in McKean County (PA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Bradford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near West Valley ...

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

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

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

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

  • Mt. Hope Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Johns Cemetery
    • The St. Johns Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. John the Baptist RC Cemetery
    • St. Johns RC Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #65989 <2>
  • Kimball Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Holland Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Plato Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Riceville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Ashford Hollow Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Franktown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Thomas Corners Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Schwartz Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Bryant Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (250 more) ...
    • McKinstry Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Tefft Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Maples Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)

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 Valley had a population of 432 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Riceville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Riceville is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
  • Bird
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
  • Ashford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Ashford is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
  • Devereaux
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Devereaux is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devereaux
  • Machias Junction
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Machias Junction is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machias Junction
  • Machias
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Springville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • East Otto
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • East Otto is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otto
  • Eddyville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
  • Ellicottville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Cadiz
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cadiz is located in Cattaraugus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadiz
  • Franklinville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Elton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
    • Laidlaw
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Laidlaw is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laidlaw
    • Sardinia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of West Valley ...

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 160 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Valley.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of West Valley. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of West Valley and those printed in the larger area surrounding West Valley.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<4> of West Valley.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Valley:

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