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 Howard (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 Howard. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Howard is located in McKean 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 McKean County: Allegany (NY), Cattaraugus (NY), Cameron, Elk, Forest, Potter & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Howard. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Howard:
- McKean County (The home county of Howard)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Custer City
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Degolia
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Degolia is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
- Lewis Run
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Aiken
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Aiken is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Big Shanty
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Big Shanty is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Shanty
- Allen
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Allen is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Bradford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Simpson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Rew
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rew is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rew
- Sawyer City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sawyer City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
- Foster Brook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Foster Brook is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
- Dallas City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dallas City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
- Timbuck
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Timbuck is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timbuck
- Cameron County
- Beechwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Instanter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- James City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Streights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Wilcox
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Windy City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Windy City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
- McKinley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- McKinley is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Russell City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Russell City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell City
- Johnsonburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Johnsonburg is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,264 people
- Whistletown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Sheffield Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sheffield Junction is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield Junction
- Iron City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Iron City is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Shinglehouse
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Williston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- East Sharon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- East Sharon is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharon
- Roulette
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Honeoye
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Honeoye is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
- Millport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Millport is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- Coneville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Coneville is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coneville
- Hebron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hebron is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Sugar Run ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sugar Run is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run
- Kinzua ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Kinzua is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinzua
- Big Bend
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Big Bend is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
- Roystone
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Roystone is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roystone
- Hemlock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hemlock is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Saybrook
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Saybrook is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook
- Sheffield
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Clarendon
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Stoneham
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Stoneham is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneham
- Barnes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Barnes is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Donaldson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Donaldson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Hoover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hoover is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover
- East Warren
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- East Warren is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Warren
- Allegany County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Bowler
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bowler is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Little Genesee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksville
- Bolivar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kossuth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kossuth is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Cuba
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cuba is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,460 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cuba <1>
- Richburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cattaraugus County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Limestone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Harrisburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harrisburg is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- New Ireland ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- 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
- Chipmunk
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
- Rock City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Four Mile
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
- Carrollton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Carrollton is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Elko ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elko is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
- Elko has also been known as:
- Wolf Run
- Allegany
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Bonaventure
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Quaker Bridge ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Quaker Bridge is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quaker Bridge
- Quaker Bridge has also been known as:
- Tunesassa
- Olean
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Olean is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olean
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,371 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olean <1>
- Cold Spring
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Cold Spring is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Chautauqua County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Ivory
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ivory is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivory
- Frewsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kennedy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Poland Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Poland Center is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poland Center
- Kiantone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kiantone is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiantone
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Howard, see our County-by-County Page for Howard.
Cemeteries Near Howard ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Howard.
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 Howard - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Howard covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- St. Bernards Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Willow Dale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- McKean Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rixford Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bridge View Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Limestone Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Smith Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- St. Elizabeths Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Moody Hollow Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (111 more) ...
- Lone Pine Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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]<3> to the northwest of Kane.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2198998 <2>
- Lamphier Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
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 Howard in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Howard.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Howard, with the one closest to Howard listed first.
- Lewis Run
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Degolia
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Degolia is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
- Custer City
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Big Shanty
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Big Shanty is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Shanty
- Gifford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Gifford is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Aiken
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Aiken is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Simpson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Bradford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Marshburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Marshburg is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshburg
- Cyclone
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cyclone is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyclone
- Rew
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rew is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rew
- Sawyer City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sawyer City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lafayette
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lafayette is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Mount Alton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mount Alton is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Alton
- Dallas City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dallas City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Howard. See our List of 1890's Communities around Howard.
Newspapers Published in Howard ...
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 117 newspapers that have been published in the area around Howard.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Howard, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Howard.
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 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 Howard:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to McKean County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cameron County
- Elk County
- Forest County
- Potter County
- Warren County
- Allegany 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> | 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> | 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- Howard) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Howard, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |