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 Mentor (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 Mentor. 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 Mentor ...
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 Mentor: W. Mentor
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 Mentor 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 West Mentor. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Mentor:
- Lake County (The home county of West Mentor)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Mentor
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Kirtland Hills
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Kirtland Hills is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirtland Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 645 people
- Reynolds
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Reynolds is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds
- Brentwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Brentwood is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
- Mentor-on-the-Lake
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Willoughby
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill Village is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill Village
- Kirtland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Waite Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Waite Hill is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waite Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 452 people
- Eastlake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pecks Corners
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pecks Corners is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecks Corners
- Lakeline
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lakeline is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeline
- Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
- Ashtabula County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Trumbull
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Trumbull is located in Ashtabula County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trumbull
- Hartsgrove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hartsgrove is located in Ashtabula County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsgrove
- East Trumbull
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- East Trumbull is located in Ashtabula County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Trumbull
- Harpersfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Harpersfield is located in Ashtabula County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harpersfield
- Driftwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Driftwood is located in Ashtabula County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Driftwood
- Geneva
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mechanicsville is located in Ashtabula County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Rock Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rome
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rome is located in Ashtabula County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Geneva-on-the-Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Orwell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Austinburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cuyahoga County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Gates Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mayfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Euclid
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Highland Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Richmond Heights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mayfield Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lyndhurst
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nottingham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nottingham is located in Cuyahoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nottingham
- Hunting Valley
(13 miles [20.9 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
- South Euclid
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Beachwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bratenahl
(14 miles [22.5 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
- Geauga County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Chardon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chesterland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- West Bass Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- West Bass Lake is located in Geauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bass Lake
- Aquilla
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Aquilla is located in Geauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquilla
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Yates Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Yates Corners is located in Geauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Corners
- East Claridon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- East Claridon is located in Geauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Claridon
- Montville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Montville is located in Geauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montville
- Thompson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- South Russell
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Burton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huntsburg
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Bainbridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Portage County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Aurora
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mantua
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hiram
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Camelot Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Camelot Village is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Village
- Streetsboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Garrettsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Village is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen Village
- Doolittles Corners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Doolittles Corners is located in Portage County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doolittles Corners
- Summit County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Reminderville
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Twinsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Northfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Emmons Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Emmons Corner is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons Corner
- Northfield Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Northfield Center is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northfield Center
- Bosworth ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bosworth is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosworth
- Boston Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Boston Heights is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,312 people
- Boston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Boston is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
- Boston has also been known as:
- Boston Mill
- Helltown
- Hudson Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hudson Village is located in Summit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson Village
- Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Trumbull County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Mesopotamia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Farmington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Farmington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Farmington is located in Trumbull County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
- Bristolville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Mentor, see our County-by-County Page for West Mentor.
Cemeteries Near West Mentor ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Mentor.
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 Mentor - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Mentor covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Mentor Municipal Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mentor Municipal Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mentor Municipal Cemetery
- The Mentor Municipal Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mentor Cemetery
- Mentor Center Cemetery
- Mentor Twp. Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #42107 <2>
- Kirtland Temple Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mentor Ave. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lost Nation Road Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Willoughby Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willoughby Memorial Gardens
- The Willoughby Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
- Plains Road Cemetery
- Willoughby Village Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Waite Hill Village Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blackbrook Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- West Kirtland Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Kirtland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (254 more) ...
- Center Chardon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Willoughby Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 in 1895, West Mentor had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Mentor, with the one closest to West Mentor listed first.
- Reynolds
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Reynolds is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynolds
- Mentor
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Heisley ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Heisley is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heisley
- Willoughby
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Little Mountain
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Little Mountain is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Mountain
- Kirtland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rush Road ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rush Road is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rush Road
- Concord
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Painesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fairport Harbor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grand River
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wickliffe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Chardon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Clarks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Clarks is located in Geauga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks
- Mayfield
(9 miles [14.5 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 Mentor. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Mentor.
Newspapers Published in West Mentor ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Mentor.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Mentor, 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 Mentor.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Mentor:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Lake County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ashtabula County
- Cuyahoga County
- Geauga County
- Portage County
- Summit County
- Trumbull County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
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 Mentor, 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 from Point A (ie- West Mentor) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |