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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 Fairport Harbor (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 Fairport Harbor. 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 Fairport Harbor ...

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 Fairport Harbor: Fairport Hbr. (or less commonly used: Fairport Harb. or Fairport Hrbr.)

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 hospitals and 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.

Fairport Harbor is located in Lake County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lake County: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga & Geauga.

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

  • Lake County     (The home county of Fairport Harbor)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairport Harbor, with the one closest to Fairport Harbor listed first.
    • Grand River
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Painesville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Mentor-on-the-Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mentor
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Perry
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • North Perry
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • North Perry is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Perry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 885 people
    • Brentwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Brentwood is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
    • Kirtland Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Kirtland Hills is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirtland Hills
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 645 people
    • Reynolds
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Reynolds is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds
    • Oak Hill Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Hill Village is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill Village
    • Kirtland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Eastlake
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Ashtabula County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairport Harbor, with the one closest to Fairport Harbor listed first.
    • Driftwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Driftwood is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Driftwood
    • Harpersfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Harpersfield is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harpersfield
    • Geneva
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Geneva is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,899 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Geneva <1>
    • Trumbull
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Trumbull is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trumbull
    • Geneva-on-the-Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • East Trumbull
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • East Trumbull is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Trumbull
    • Mechanicsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Mechanicsville is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
    • Hartsgrove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hartsgrove is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsgrove
    • Austinburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Saybrook
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Saybrook is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook
    • Eagleville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Eagleville is located in Ashtabula County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagleville
    • Rock Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
  • Cuyahoga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairport Harbor, with the one closest to Fairport Harbor listed first.
    • Mayfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Euclid
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Euclid is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 46,205 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Euclid <1>
    • Gates Mills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Highland Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Richmond Heights
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Mayfield Heights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Nottingham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Nottingham is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
    • Hunting Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Hunting Valley is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunting Valley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 717 people
    • Lyndhurst
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bratenahl
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bratenahl is located in Cuyahoga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratenahl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,153 people
    • South Euclid
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Beachwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Geauga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairport Harbor, with the one closest to Fairport Harbor listed first.
    • West Bass Lake
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • West Bass Lake is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bass Lake
    • Chardon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Thompson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Aquilla
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Aquilla is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
    • Chesterland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Montville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Montville is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montville
    • East Claridon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • East Claridon is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Claridon
    • Huntsburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Huntsburg is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntsburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,641 people
    • Yates Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Yates Corners is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Corners
    • Burton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • South Russell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • South Russell is located in Geauga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Russell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,713 people
    • Middlefield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Portage County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairport Harbor, with the one closest to Fairport Harbor listed first.
    • Aurora
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Hiram
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Hiram is located in Portage County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiram
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hiram <1>
  • Summit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairport Harbor, with the one closest to Fairport Harbor listed first.
    • Reminderville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Reminderville is located in Summit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reminderville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,643 people
    • Northfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Trumbull County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fairport Harbor, with the one closest to Fairport Harbor listed first.
    • Mesopotamia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Farmington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Farmington is located in Trumbull County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
    • West Farmington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Fairport Harbor ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fairport Harbor.

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 Fairport Harbor - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Blackbrook Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mentor Ave. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Huntoon Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lane Road Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mentor Municipal Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mentor Municipal Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Concord Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Leroy Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Perry Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry Cemetery
    • The Perry Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Center Road Cemetery
    • Disciples Cemetery
    • Perry Center Cemetery
    • Perry Center Road Cemetery
    • Perry Twp. Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2211916 <2>
  • Continue List   (206 more) ...
    • Lost Nation Road Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Willoughby Memorial Gardens
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willoughby Memorial Gardens
      • The Willoughby Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
      • Plains Road Cemetery
    • Protestant Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

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 Fairport Harbor had a population of 1,171 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Fairport Harbor had a population of 3,057 people.

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

  • Grand River
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Painesville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Heisley ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Heisley is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heisley
  • Lane
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Lane is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
  • Mentor
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Concord
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • West Mentor
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • West Mentor is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Mentor
  • Perry
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Little Mountain
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Little Mountain is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Mountain
  • Reynolds
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Reynolds is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds
  • Willoughby
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kirtland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Breakman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Breakman is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breakman
    • Madison
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Chardon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Fairport Harbor ...

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 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fairport Harbor.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Fairport Harbor. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Fairport Harbor and those printed in the larger area surrounding Fairport Harbor.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4> of Fairport Harbor.

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 websites either 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 Fairport Harbor:

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 Fairport Harbor, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Fairport Harbor) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.