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 Straight Creek (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 Straight Creek. 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 Straight Creek ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Straight Creek: Straight Crk. (or less commonly used: Straight Ck. or Straight Cr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Straight Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Straight Creek.
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 northeast 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 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.
Straight Creek is located in Elk 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 Elk County: Cameron, Clearfield, Forest, Jefferson, McKean & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Straight Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Straight Creek:
- Elk County (The home county of Straight Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Instanter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Streights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Wilcox
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Saint Marys
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Johnsonburg
(13 miles [20.9 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
- Whistletown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Whistletown is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whistletown
- Dagus Mines
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
- Ridgway
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Benezette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Dents Run
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dents Run is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
- Grant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Grant is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- James City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- McKinley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- McKinley is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Cameron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Beechwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Weber City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Weber City is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
- Emporium
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Huntley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Huntley is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
- Mix Run
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Mix Run is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mix Run
- Driftwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wyside
(27 miles [43.5 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 Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Tyler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tyler is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyler
- Winterburn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Winterburn is located in Clearfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterburn
- Clinton County
- Hammersley Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hammersley Fork is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammersley Fork
- Forest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Sheffield Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sheffield Junction is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield Junction
- Iron City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Iron City is located in Forest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Crenshaw
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
- Brockway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- McKean County
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Clermont
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Clermont is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
- Hutchins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hutchins is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Crosby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Crosby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosby
- Freeman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Freeman is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Gardeau
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Gardeau is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardeau
- Mount Jewett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Smethport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Coontown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Coontown is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coontown
- Kanesholm
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kanesholm is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanesholm
- Simpson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Simpson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Port Allegany
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tallyho
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tallyho is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallyho
- Kane
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Austin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Roulette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Williston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Inez
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Inez is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
- Coudersport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hebron is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Ayers Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ayers Hill is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers Hill
- Millport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Millport is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- Shinglehouse
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sweden Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sweden Valley is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweden Valley
- Coneville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coneville is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coneville
- East Sharon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Sharon is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharon
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Roystone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Roystone is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roystone
- Donaldson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Donaldson is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donaldson
- Barnes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Barnes is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Henrys Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Henrys Mills is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Mills
- Hoover
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hoover is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover
- Sheffield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Allegany County (NY)
- Bowler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bowler is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Cattaraugus County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Harrisburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Harrisburg is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Rock City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Four Mile
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
- Limestone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Straight Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Straight Creek.
Cemeteries Near Straight Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Straight Creek.
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 Straight Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Straight Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Clermont Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rich Valley Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Norwich Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Holy Rosary Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Rosary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Rosary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Johnsonburg.
- The Holy Rosary Cemetery has also been known as:
- Wardvale Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1968966 <2>
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Johnsonburg.
- The St. John's Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. John's Cemetery
- Wardvale Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2159321 <2>
- Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Johnsonburg.
- The Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery has also been known as:
- Johnsonburg United Methodist Cemetery
- Rolfe United Methodist Cemetery
- Wardville Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2159320 <2>
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bridge View Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newton Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (72 more) ...
- St. Elizabeths Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Greendale Cemetery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
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 Straight Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Straight Creek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Straight Creek, with the one closest to Straight Creek listed first.
- Instanter
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- Norwich
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Norwich is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
- Clermont
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Clermont is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clermont
- Rathbun
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rathbun is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Midmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Midmont is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midmont
- Rasselas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rasselas is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rasselas
- Streights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- Glen Hazel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Hazel is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Hazel
- Beechwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Beechwood is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
- Ketner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ketner is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketner
- Truman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Truman is located in Cameron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truman
- Colegrove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Colegrove is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colegrove
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hutchins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hutchins is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchins
- Kasson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Kasson is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Crosby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Crosby is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosby
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Straight Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Straight Creek.
Newspapers Published in Straight Creek ...
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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Straight Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Straight Creek, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Straight Creek.
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 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 Straight Creek:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Elk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cameron County
- Clearfield County
- Clinton County
- Forest County
- Jefferson County
- McKean 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> | 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 Straight Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Straight Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |