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 Rich Valley (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 Rich Valley. 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.
Name Variations for Rich Valley ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Rich Valley: Rich Vly. (or less commonly used: Rich Vally. or Rich Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rich Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rich Valley.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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.
Rich Valley is located in Cameron 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 Cameron County: Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, McKean & Potter.
Below are the counties that are near Rich Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rich Valley:
- Cameron County (The home county of Rich Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Weber City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Weber City is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
- Emporium
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Beechwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Cameron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Huntley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Huntley is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Mix Run
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mix Run is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mix Run
- Driftwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wyside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wyside is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyside
- Clearfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Tyler
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Tyler is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
- Pottersdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pottersdale is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersdale
- Winterburn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
- Keewaydin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Hammersley Fork
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hammersley Fork is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammersley Fork
- Bitumen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bitumen is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bitumen
- Cooks Run
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cooks Run is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Run
- Keating
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Keating is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keating
- Westport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Dents Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dents Run is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
- Grant
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Grant is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Instanter
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Saint Marys
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Benezette
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Streights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Caledonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Caledonia is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Johnsonburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Johnsonburg is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,264 people
- Byrnedale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dagus Mines
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Wilcox
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Whistletown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Kylers Corners
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
- Jefferson County
- Crenshaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- McKean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Gardeau
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gardeau is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardeau
- Clermont
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Clermont is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
- Crosby
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Crosby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosby
- Hutchins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hutchins is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Port Allegany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Smethport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Freeman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Freeman is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Mount Jewett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coontown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Coontown is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coontown
- Sartwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sartwell is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartwell
- Kanesholm
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Kanesholm is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanesholm
- Simpson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Larabee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Larabee is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larabee
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Austin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Roulette
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Inez
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Inez is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
- Williston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Ayers Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ayers Hill is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers Hill
- Coudersport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Sweden Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sweden Valley is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweden Valley
- Millport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Millport is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- Coneville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Coneville is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coneville
- Shinglehouse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Oswayo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oswayo is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswayo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rich Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Rich Valley.
Cemeteries Near Rich Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rich Valley.
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 Rich Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rich Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Rich Valley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Newton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pine St. Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hicks Run Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Mason Hill Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wyle Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Norwich Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Forksville Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Grove Hill Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (73 more) ...
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Costello Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Clermont Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
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>
While we didn't find Rich Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rich Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rich Valley, with the one closest to Rich Valley listed first.
- Beechwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Truman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Truman is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
- Emporium
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rathbun
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rathbun is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Sizerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sizerville is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sizerville
- Gardeau
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gardeau is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardeau
- Norwich
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Norwich is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
- Cameron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Sterling Run
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sterling Run is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling Run
- Dents Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dents Run is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
- Colegrove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Colegrove is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colegrove
- Grant
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Grant is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Austin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Clermont
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Clermont is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
- Instanter
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rich Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rich Valley.
Newspapers Published in Rich Valley ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rich Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rich Valley, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rich Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Rich Valley:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Cameron County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clearfield County
- Clinton County
- Elk County
- Jefferson County
- McKean County
- Potter 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 Rich Valley, 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 from Point A (ie- Rich Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |