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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 Derrick City (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 Derrick City. 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 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.

Derrick City is located in McKean County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of McKean County: Allegany (NY), Cattaraugus (NY), Cameron, Elk, Forest, Potter & Warren.

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

  • McKean County     (The home county of Derrick City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derrick City, with the one closest to Derrick City listed first.
    • Tuna
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tuna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
      • Tuna is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Tuna
      • From Derrick City to Tuna
    • Dallas City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Summit
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Sawyer City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sawyer City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
      • Sawyer City is located in McKean County
    • Foster Brook
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Duke Center
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Bradford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Rew
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Rixford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Degolia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Aiken
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Aiken. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
      • Aiken is located in McKean County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Aiken
      • From Derrick City to Aiken
    • Allen
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Allen have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
      • Allen is located in McKean County
    • Custer City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Custer City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer City
      • Custer City is located in McKean County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Custer City <3>
  • Elk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derrick City, with the one closest to Derrick City listed first.
    • Instanter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Instanter have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
      • Instanter is located in Elk County
    • Streights
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • James City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for James City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James City
      • James City is located in Elk County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for James City <3>
    • Wilcox
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Windy City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Windy City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
      • Windy City is located in Elk County
  • Potter County
  • Warren County
  • Allegany County (NY)
  • Cattaraugus County (NY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Derrick City, with the one closest to Derrick City listed first.
    • Limestone
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Chipmunk
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chipmunk. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
      • Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chipmunk
      • From Derrick City to Chipmunk
    • Rock City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rock City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
      • Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
    • Four Mile
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Four Mile. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
      • Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Four Mile
      • From Derrick City to Four Mile
    • New Ireland ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Ireland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Ireland
      • New Ireland is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • New Ireland has also been known as:
      • Irish Town
      • Little Ireland
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Ireland
      • From Derrick City to New Ireland
    • Allegany
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Allegany have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegany
      • Allegany is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,685 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Allegany <3>
    • Saint Bonaventure
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Bonaventure have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Bonaventure
      • Saint Bonaventure is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Bonaventure <3>
    • Olean
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Carrollton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Carrollton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
      • Carrollton is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Carrollton
      • From Derrick City to Carrollton
    • Portville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Portville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portville
      • Portville is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 941 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Portville <3>
    • Weston Mills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Kill Buck
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Salamanca
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Chautauqua County (NY)

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

Cemeteries Near Derrick City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Derrick City.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Derrick City had a population of 369 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Gilmore
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gilmore have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
    • Gilmore is located in McKean County
  • Red Rock
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Red Rock have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
    • Red Rock is located in McKean County
  • Bells Camp
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bells Camp have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Camp
    • Bells Camp is located in McKean County
  • Sawyer City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sawyer City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
    • Sawyer City is located in McKean County
  • Dallas City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Summit
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Tuna
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tuna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
    • Tuna is located in McKean County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Tuna
    • From Derrick City to Tuna
  • Foster Brook
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Bradford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Duke Center
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Limestone
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Degolia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Rew
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Chipmunk
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Chipmunk. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
      • Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Chipmunk
      • From Derrick City to Chipmunk
    • Coleville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coleville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleville
      • Coleville is located in McKean County

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

Newspapers Published in Derrick City ...

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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Derrick City.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Derrick City, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Derrick City.

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 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 Derrick City:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Derrick City. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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 Derrick City, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Derrick City) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Derrick City. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.9714, Longitude: -78.5715    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025