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 West Bradford (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 West Bradford. 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 West Bradford ...
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 West Bradford: W. Bradford
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 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.
West Bradford is located in McKean 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 McKean County: Allegany (NY), Cattaraugus (NY), Cameron, Elk, Forest, Potter & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near West Bradford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Bradford:
- McKean County (The home county of West Bradford)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Bradford
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Foster Brook
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Foster Brook is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
- Tuna
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tuna is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
- Degolia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Degolia is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
- Derrick City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sawyer City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sawyer City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
- Custer City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dallas City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Dallas City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
- Gilmore
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gilmore is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Lewis Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Aiken
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Aiken is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Allen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Allen is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Elk County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Instanter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Instanter is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Instanter
- James City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- McKinley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McKinley is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Wilcox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Windy City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Windy City is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy City
- Streights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Streights is located in Elk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Streights
- 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
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Shinglehouse
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- East Sharon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- East Sharon is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sharon
- Williston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Williston is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Honeoye
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Honeoye is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeoye
- Millport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Millport is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millport
- Roulette
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Sugar Run ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sugar Run is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Run
- Kinzua ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kinzua is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinzua
- Big Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Big Bend is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
- Hemlock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hemlock is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Roystone
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Roystone is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roystone
- Stoneham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stoneham is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneham
- Clarendon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saybrook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saybrook is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook
- East Warren
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- East Warren is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Warren
- Warren
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sheffield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Barnes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Barnes is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Allegany County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Bowler
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bowler is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowler
- Little Genesee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- 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
- Bolivar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cuba
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Kossuth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kossuth is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kossuth
- Richburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lyons Corners
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lyons Corners is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons Corners
- Sawyer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sawyer is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer
- Cattaraugus County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Limestone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Ireland ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- 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
- Harrisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Harrisburg is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
- Chipmunk
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chipmunk is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipmunk
- Rock City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rock City is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Carrollton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Carrollton is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Four Mile
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Four Mile is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Mile
- Allegany
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Bonaventure
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Quaker Bridge ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Quaker Bridge is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quaker Bridge
- Quaker Bridge has also been known as:
- Tunesassa
- Elko ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Elko is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
- Elko has also been known as:
- Wolf Run
- Cold Spring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cold Spring is located in Cattaraugus County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Chautauqua County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Ivory
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ivory is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivory
- Kennedy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Frewsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Poland Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Poland Center is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poland Center
- Kiantone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kiantone is located in Chautauqua County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiantone
- Falconer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jamestown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Bradford, see our County-by-County Page for West Bradford.
Cemeteries Near West Bradford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Bradford.
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 West Bradford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Bradford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- St. Bernards Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Willow Dale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Limestone Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rixford Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- McKean Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- St. Bonaventure Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Allegany Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allegany Cemetery
- The Allegany Cemetery has also been known as:
- Allegany Protestant Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #63838 <2>
- Kill Buck Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Moody Hollow Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Ellicott Street Catholic Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (146 more) ...
- Calvary Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Oldtown Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wildwood Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
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 West Bradford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Bradford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Bradford, with the one closest to West Bradford listed first.
- Bradford
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Foster Brook
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Foster Brook is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Brook
- Degolia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Degolia is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Degolia
- Tuna
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tuna is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuna
- Custer City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sawyer City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sawyer City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawyer City
- Derrick City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Limestone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dallas City
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Dallas City is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas City
- Red Rock
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Red Rock is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- Gilmore
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gilmore is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilmore
- Bells Camp
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bells Camp is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Camp
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Lewis Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Aiken
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Aiken is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Rew
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rew is located in McKean County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rew
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Bradford. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Bradford.
Newspapers Published in West Bradford ...
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 115 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Bradford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Bradford, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Bradford.
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 West Bradford:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to McKean County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Elk County
- Potter County
- Warren County
- Allegany County
- Cattaraugus County
- Chautauqua 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 West Bradford, 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- West Bradford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |