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 Orwell (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 Orwell. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Orwell 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 Orwell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Orwell:
- Bradford County (The home county of Orwell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Potterville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Potterville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potterville
- North Orwell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Orwell is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orwell
- West Warren
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- West Warren is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warren
- South Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- South Hill is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hill
- Allis Hollow
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Allis Hollow is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allis Hollow
- Rome
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Warren
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- South Warren is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Warren
- Herrickville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Herrickville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrickville
- Bumpville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bumpville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpville
- Warren Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Warren Center is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Center
- Le Raysville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Le Raysville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Raysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 271 people
- Vawter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vawter is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vawter
- Macedonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Macedonia is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Dushore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Shinerville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Shinerville is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shinerville
- Bernice
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bernice is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernice
- Millview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Millview is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millview
- Susquehanna County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Little Meadows
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rushville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rushville is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
- Friendsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Choconut
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Choconut is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choconut
- Forest Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Forest Lake is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lake
- Fairdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fairdale is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Brackney
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Auburn Four Corners
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Auburn Four Corners is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Four Corners
- Elk Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elk Lake is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Lake
- Montrose
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- South Montrose
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lawsville Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lawsville Center is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsville Center
- Springville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wyoming County
- The following are listed by their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Laceyville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Skinners Eddy
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Skinners Eddy is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinners Eddy
- Jenningsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Jenningsville is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenningsville
- Stowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Stowell is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stowell
- Meshoppen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Avery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Avery is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Mehoopany Station
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mehoopany Station is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mehoopany Station
- Forkston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Forkston is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkston
- Lemon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lemon is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lemon
- Lake Carey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Carey is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Carey
- Vosburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vosburg is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vosburg
- Marcy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marcy is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcy
- Dixon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dixon is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
- Broome County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Endicott
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Vestal
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Endwell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hawleyton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hawleyton is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawleyton
- Willow Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Point is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Point
- Johnson City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Binghamton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Maine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Maine is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine
- Conklin Station
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Conklin Station is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Station
- Corbettsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Conklin Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Conklin Center is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Center
- Conklin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kirkwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chemung County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Chemung
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Owens Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Owens Mills is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owens Mills
- Wellsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Van Etten
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Erin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elmira
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Southport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Southport is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southport
- Tioga County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- East Nichols
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- East Nichols is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Nichols
- South Owego
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- South Owego is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Owego
- Nichols
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hoopers Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hoopers Valley is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoopers Valley
- Lounsberry
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lounsberry is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lounsberry
- Smithboro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Apalachin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Owego
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Campville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Campville is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campville
- Waverly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gaskill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Gaskill is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskill
- Hullsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hullsville is located in Tioga County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hullsville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Orwell, see our County-by-County Page for Orwell.
Cemeteries Near Orwell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orwell.
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 Orwell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Orwell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Orwell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Darling Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Orwell Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jillson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- North Orwell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rome Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mercur Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Windham Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hughes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bumpville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- South Herrick Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Centerville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (323 more) ...
- Coburn Dewing Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ghent Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pond Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
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 Orwell had a population of 168 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Orwell, with the one closest to Orwell listed first.
- Potterville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Potterville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potterville
- North Orwell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Orwell is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orwell
- Rome
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Allis Hollow
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Allis Hollow is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allis Hollow
- South Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- South Hill is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hill
- West Warren
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- West Warren is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warren
- South Warren
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- South Warren is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Warren
- Herrickville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Herrickville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrickville
- Bumpville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bumpville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpville
- Mercur
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mercur is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercur
- Le Raysville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Le Raysville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Raysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 271 people
- Windham Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Windham Center is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham Center
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Warren Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Warren Center is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Center
- Cadis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cadis is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadis
- Windham Summit
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Windham Summit is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham Summit
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Orwell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Orwell.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Orwell ...
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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orwell.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Orwell. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Orwell and those printed in the larger area surrounding Orwell.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<4> of Orwell.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Orwell:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Bradford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Sullivan County
- Susquehanna County
- Wyoming County
- Broome County
- Chemung County
- Tioga 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 Orwell, 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' (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- Orwell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |