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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 Wattsburg (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 Wattsburg. 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.

Wattsburg is located in Erie 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 Erie County: Chautauqua (NY), Ashtabula (OH), Crawford (OH) & Warren (OH).

Below are the counties that are near Wattsburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wattsburg:

  • Erie County     (The home county of Wattsburg)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wattsburg, with the one closest to Wattsburg listed first.
    • Arbuckle
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Arbuckle is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbuckle
    • Phillipsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Phillipsville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipsville
    • Beaver Dam
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Beaver Dam is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Dam
    • Union City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Elgin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Elgin is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Hornby
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Hornby is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornby
    • Waterford Station
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Waterford Station is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford Station
    • Waterford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Corry
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • LeBoeuf Garden
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • LeBoeuf Garden is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LeBoeuf Garden
    • Mill Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mill Village is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
    • Wesleyville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wattsburg, with the one closest to Wattsburg listed first.
    • Canadohta Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Canadohta Lake is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadohta Lake
    • Spartansburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lincolnville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Lincolnville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnville
    • Riceville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Riceville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
    • Rootville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Rootville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rootville
    • Brown Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Brown Hill is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Hill
    • Centerville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Cambridge Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Vrooman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Vrooman is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vrooman
    • Tryonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Tryonville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryonville
    • Woodcock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodcock is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Townville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Townville is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
  • Venango County
    • Pleasantville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Warren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wattsburg, with the one closest to Wattsburg listed first.
    • Colza
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Colza is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colza
    • Columbus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Bear Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • West Spring Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • West Spring Creek is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Spring Creek
    • East Branch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • East Branch is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Branch
    • Lottsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Lottsville is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lottsville
    • Sanford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sanford is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
    • Garland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Garland is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
    • Sugar Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Pittsfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Selkirk
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Selkirk is located in Warren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selkirk
    • Youngsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Chautauqua County (NY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wattsburg, with the one closest to Wattsburg listed first.
    • French Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • French Creek is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Creek
    • Findley Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • North Clymer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • North Clymer is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Clymer
    • Slab City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Slab City is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab City
    • Sherman
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Sherman is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 674 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sherman <1>
    • Panama
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Panama is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panama
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Panama <1>
    • Niobe
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Stebbins Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Stebbins Corners is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stebbins Corners
    • Ripley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Stedman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Stedman is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stedman
    • Forsyth
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Forsyth is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forsyth
    • Ashville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wattsburg, see our County-by-County Page for Wattsburg.

Cemeteries Near Wattsburg ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wattsburg.

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 Wattsburg - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wattsburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wattsburg, with the one closest to Wattsburg listed first.

  • Taft Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Cutting Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Phillipsville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Teresa Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Concord Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Matthias Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • West Mina Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Wheelock Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • French Creek Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Bonnell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • St.s Pauls Evangelical Church Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (156 more) ...

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 Wattsburg had a population of 382 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Wattsburg had a population of 381 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Wattsburg, with the one closest to Wattsburg listed first.

  • Arbuckle
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Arbuckle is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbuckle
  • Marvin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Marvin is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvin
  • Phillipsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Phillipsville is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipsville
  • Cutting
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Cutting is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutting
  • Union City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Elgin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Elgin is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
  • Wheelock
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Wheelock is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelock
  • French Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • French Creek is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Creek
  • West Greene
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • West Greene is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
  • Waterford Station
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Waterford Station is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford Station
  • Hornby
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Hornby is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornby
  • Concord
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Concord is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Waterford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Clymer
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Findley Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wattsburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wattsburg.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wattsburg ...

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 122 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wattsburg.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wattsburg. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wattsburg and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wattsburg.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4> of Wattsburg.

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 Wattsburg:

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 Wattsburg, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wattsburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.