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 Athens (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 Athens. 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.
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 southeast 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 south.
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 south 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.
Athens is located in Bradford County.
To see how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Bradford County: Chemung (NY), Tioga (NY), Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga & Wyoming.
Below are the counties that are near Athens. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Athens:
- Bradford County (The home county of Athens)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Sayre
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- South Waverly
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Waverly is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Waverly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,006 people
- Vawter
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Vawter is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vawter
- Bumpville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bumpville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpville
- Ulster
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- East Smithfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Smithfield is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Smithfield
- North Orwell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Orwell is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orwell
- Saco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Saco is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saco
- Rome
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bentley Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bentley Creek is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley Creek
- Middletown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Middletown is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Luthers Mills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Luthers Mills is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luthers Mills
- Big Pond
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Big Pond is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Pond
- Lycoming County
- Chemung
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chemung is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemung
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Dushore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Piatt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Piatt is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piatt
- Lincoln Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lincoln Falls is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Falls
- Millview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Millview is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millview
- Susquehanna County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Little Meadows
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Rushville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rushville is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
- Friendsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Choconut
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Choconut is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choconut
- Forest Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Forest Lake is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake
- Brackney
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Fairdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Fairdale is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Tioga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Millerton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Millerton is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Roseville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Roseville is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 184 people
- Mainesburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mainesburg is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mainesburg
- Gleason
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gleason is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gleason
- Wyoming County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Laceyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Skinners Eddy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Skinners Eddy is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinners Eddy
- Stowell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Stowell is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stowell
- Broome County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Vestal
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Endicott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Endwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Maine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maine is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine
- Willow Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Point is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Point
- Hawleyton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hawleyton is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyton
- Johnson City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chemung County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Chemung
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Owens Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Owens Mills is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owens Mills
- Wellsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Van Etten
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Southport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Southport is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southport
- Elmira
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Erin
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- West Elmira
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Elmira is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Elmira
- Pine City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Elmira Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Webb Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Webb Mills is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb Mills
- Horseheads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pioneer Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pioneer Village is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
- Schuyler County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Alpine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Catharine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Catharine is located in Schuyler County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catharine
- Odessa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Steuben County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Caton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Caton is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caton
- South Corning
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Corning is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Corning
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,080 people
- Tioga County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Waverly
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Barton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hoopers Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hoopers Valley is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoopers Valley
- Smithboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nichols
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lockwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lounsberry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lounsberry is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lounsberry
- East Nichols
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- East Nichols is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Nichols
- South Owego
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- South Owego is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Owego
- Owego
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Spencer
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Apalachin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hamar Estates
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hamar Estates is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamar Estates
- Tompkins County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- West Danby
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- West Danby is located in Tompkins County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Danby
- Danby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Danby is located in Tompkins County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danby
- Newfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- White Church
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- White Church is located in Tompkins County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Church
- Caroline Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Caroline Center is located in Tompkins County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroline Center
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Athens, see our County-by-County Page for Athens.
Cemeteries Near Athens ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Athens.
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 Athens - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Athens covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Orange Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Tioga Point Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tioga Point Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Tioga Point Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Sayre.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #46473 <2>
- Milan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Rest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- East Waverly Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. James Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Forest Home Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Barnum Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Glenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Emory Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sheshequin Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- French Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (315 more) ...
- Bumpville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Asbury Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Barton Methodist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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 Athens had a population of 3,274 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Athens had a population of 3,180 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Greenes Landing
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Greenes Landing is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenes Landing
- Milan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Milan is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milan
- Sayre
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Litchfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Litchfield is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Waverly
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Litchfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Litchfield is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield
- Vawter
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Vawter is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vawter
- Sheshequin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sheshequin is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheshequin
- Ghent
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ghent is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ghent
- Bumpville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bumpville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpville
- Wilawana
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wilawana is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilawana
- Ulster
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- North Rome
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Rome is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Rome
- Windham Summit
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Windham Summit is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham Summit
- Hoopers Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hoopers Valley is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoopers Valley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Athens. See our List of 1890's Communities around Athens.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Athens ...
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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Athens.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Athens. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Athens and those printed in the larger area surrounding Athens.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<4> of Athens.
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 Athens:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Bradford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lycoming County
- Sullivan County
- Susquehanna County
- Tioga County
- Wyoming County
- Broome County
- Chemung County
- Schuyler County
- Steuben County
- Tioga County
- Tompkins County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
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 Athens, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Athens) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |