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 Big Bend (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 Big Bend. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Big Bend is located in Warren 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 Warren County: Cattaraugus (NY), Chautauqua (NY), Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean & Venango.
Below are the counties that are near Big Bend. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Bend:
- Warren County (The home county of Big Bend)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Kinzua ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kinzua is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinzua
- Hemlock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Hemlock is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Sugar Run ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Run is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run
- Stoneham
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Stoneham is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneham
- Clarendon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Warren
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- East Warren is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Warren
- Warren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Roystone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Roystone is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roystone
- Saybrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Saybrook is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook
- Sheffield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Putnamville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Putnamville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnamville
- Barnes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Barnes is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Donaldson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Donaldson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Windy City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Windy City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
- James City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- McKinley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- McKinley is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Russell City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Russell City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell City
- Wilcox
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Streights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Instanter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Johnsonburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Johnsonburg is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,264 people
- Hallton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hallton is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallton
- Whistletown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Sheffield Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sheffield Junction is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield Junction
- Balltown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Balltown is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Balltown
- Iron City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Iron City is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Trunkeyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Trunkeyville is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trunkeyville
- Marienville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Marienville is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marienville
- Fagundus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fagundus is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagundus
- Roses
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Roses is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roses
- Gilfoyle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Gilfoyle is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilfoyle
- McKean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Westline
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Tallyho
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Tallyho is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallyho
- Timbuck
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Timbuck is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timbuck
- Kane
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Big Shanty
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Big Shanty is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Shanty
- Lewis Run
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Custer City
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Degolia
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Degolia is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
- Coontown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Coontown is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coontown
- Kanesholm
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Kanesholm is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanesholm
- Bradford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Jewett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Freeman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Freeman is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Cattaraugus County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Onoville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Onoville is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoville
- Elko ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elko is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
- Elko has also been known as:
- Wolf Run
- Quaker Bridge ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Quaker Bridge is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quaker Bridge
- Quaker Bridge has also been known as:
- Tunesassa
- Cold Spring
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cold Spring is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Randolph
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- New Ireland ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Ireland is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Ireland
- New Ireland has also been known as:
- Irish Town
- Little Ireland
- East Randolph
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- East Randolph is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Randolph
- Estimated population in 2012: 615 people
- Limestone
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Napoli
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Napoli is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoli
- Carrollton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Carrollton is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Chipmunk
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
- Harrisburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Harrisburg is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Salamanca
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chautauqua County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Kiantone
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kiantone is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiantone
- Ivory
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Ivory is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivory
- Frewsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Busti
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Busti is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busti
- Poland Center
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Poland Center is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poland Center
- Falconer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kennedy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Celoron
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Fluvanna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fluvanna is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fluvanna
- Greenhurst
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ross Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ross Mills is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross Mills
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Bend, see our County-by-County Page for Big Bend.
Cemeteries Near Big Bend ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Bend.
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 Big Bend - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Bend covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Dolors Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Snyder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Irvine Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lone Pine Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Pine Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lone Pine Cemetery is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<2> to the northwest of Kane.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2198998 <3>
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Oakland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Moriah Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Weiler Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weiler Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Weiler Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the west of North Warren.
- The Weiler Cemetery has also been known as:
- Yankee Bush Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2142104 <3>
- Westview Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cherry Grove Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (123 more) ...
- Hale Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Riverview - Corydon Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mead Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Big Bend in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Bend.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Bend, with the one closest to Big Bend listed first.
- Kinzua ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kinzua is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinzua
- Hemlock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Hemlock is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Sugar Run ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Run is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run
- Stoneham
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Stoneham is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneham
- Scandia
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Scandia is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scandia
- Morrison ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Morrison is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Clarendon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Warren
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- East Warren is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Warren
- Glade
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Glade is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade
- Tiona
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cornplanter ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cornplanter is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornplanter
- North Warren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- North Warren is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Warren
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Warren
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Saybrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Saybrook is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook
- Roystone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Roystone is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roystone
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Bend. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Bend.
Newspapers Published in Big Bend ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Bend.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Bend, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Bend.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Big Bend:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Warren County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Elk County
- Forest County
- McKean County
- Cattaraugus County
- Chautauqua 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Bend) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Big Bend, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |