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 Smethport (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 Smethport. 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 and hospitals 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.
Smethport is located in McKean County and is the County Seat.
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 Smethport. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smethport:
- McKean County (The home county of Smethport)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- Wrights Corners
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wrights Corners is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights Corners
- Crosby
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Crosby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosby
- Sartwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sartwell is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartwell
- Larabee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Larabee is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larabee
- Simpson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Port Allegany
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rixford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rixford is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixford
- Aiken
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Aiken is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Allen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Allen is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Rew
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rew is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rew
- Clermont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Clermont is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
- Duke Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Duke Center is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duke Center
- Dallas City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dallas City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
- Cameron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- Beechwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Emporium
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Weber City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Weber City is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
- Cameron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- Instanter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Streights
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Wilcox
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- James City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Johnsonburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Johnsonburg is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,264 people
- McKinley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- McKinley is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Windy City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Windy City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
- Saint Marys
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Whistletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Russell City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Russell City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell City
- Ridgway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- Williston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Roulette
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Shinglehouse
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Millport
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Millport is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- Hebron
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hebron is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- East Sharon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Sharon is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharon
- Coneville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Coneville is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coneville
- Honeoye
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Honeoye is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
- Coudersport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Austin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Inez
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Inez is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
- Oswayo
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oswayo is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswayo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Chrystal
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Chrystal is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chrystal
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- Kinzua ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Kinzua is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinzua
- Sugar Run ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sugar Run is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run
- Big Bend
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Big Bend is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
- Roystone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Roystone is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roystone
- Allegany County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- Bowler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bowler is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Little Genesee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bolivar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kossuth
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Kossuth is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Alma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Alma is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Richburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Clarksville is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Clarksville
- Sawyer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sawyer is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Vosburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vosburg is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vosburg
- Pikeville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pikeville is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pikeville
- Allentown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cuba
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Petrolia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Petrolia is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrolia
- Cattaraugus County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- Four Mile
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
- Harrisburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Harrisburg is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Rock City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Portville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Limestone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Chipmunk
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
- Olean
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Saint Bonaventure
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Weston Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Weston Mills is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston Mills
- Westons Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Allegany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- New Ireland ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Carrollton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Carrollton is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smethport, see our County-by-County Page for Smethport.
Cemeteries Near Smethport ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smethport.
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 Smethport - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smethport covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- St. Elizabeths Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Norwich Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Moody Hollow Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Clermont Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lewis Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- St. Gabriels Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Rixford Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lamphier Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (96 more) ...
- Bridge View Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- McKean Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Card Creek Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Smethport had a population of 1,150 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Smethport had a population of 1,518 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smethport, with the one closest to Smethport listed first.
- East Smethport
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- East Smethport is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Smethport
- Farmers Valley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Farmers Valley is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmers Valley
- Kasson
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kasson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Crosby
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Crosby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosby
- Ormsby
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Ormsby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ormsby
- Colegrove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Colegrove is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colegrove
- Sartwell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sartwell is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartwell
- Coleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coleville is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleville
- Larabee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Larabee is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larabee
- Simpson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Cyclone
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cyclone is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cyclone
- Clermont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Clermont is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Rixford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rixford is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixford
- Port Allegany
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Prentisvale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Prentisvale is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentisvale
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smethport. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smethport.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Smethport ...
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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smethport.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Smethport. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Smethport and those printed in the larger area surrounding Smethport.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3> of Smethport.
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 Smethport:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to McKean County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cameron County
- Elk County
- Potter County
- Warren County
- Allegany County
- Cattaraugus 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> | 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 Smethport, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Smethport) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |