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 Damascus (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 Damascus. 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 Damascus ...
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 West Damascus: W. Damascus
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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 Damascus is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Broome (NY), Delaware (NY), Sullivan (NY), Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike & Susquehanna.
Below are the counties that are near West Damascus. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Damascus:
- Wayne County (The home county of West Damascus)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Calkins
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Calkins is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calkins
- Boyds Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Boyds Mills is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds Mills
- Siko
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Siko is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siko
- Damascus
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Milanville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Milanville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milanville
- Carley Brook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carley Brook is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carley Brook
- Dyberry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dyberry is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyberry
- Tanners Falls
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tanners Falls is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanners Falls
- Laurella
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Laurella is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurella
- Bethany
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Honesdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- High Lake
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- High Lake is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Lake
- Aldenville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Aldenville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldenville
- Lackawanna County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Simpson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vandling
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vandling is located in Lackawanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 707 people
- Carbondale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cortez
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cortez is located in Lackawanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cortez
- Mayfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jermyn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Archbald
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tompkinsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tompkinsville is located in Lackawanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkinsville
- Drinker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Drinker is located in Lackawanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drinker
- Green Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Grove is located in Lackawanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Grove
- Jessup
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Cobb
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Cobb is located in Lackawanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Cobb
- Peckville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Masthope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Masthope is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masthope
- Westcolang
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Westcolang is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westcolang
- Kimble
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Kimble is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimble
- Wilsonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wilsonville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsonville
- Lackawaxen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rowland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tafton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Paupack
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Blooming Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Blooming Grove is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blooming Grove
- Lords Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Parkers Glen
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Parkers Glen is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Glen
- Ledgedale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ledgedale is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledgedale
- Millrift
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Millrift is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millrift
- Susquehanna County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Forest City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Union Dale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Burnwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Burnwood is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnwood
- Ararat
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ararat is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ararat
- Thompson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Royal
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Royal is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- South Gibson
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- North Jackson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- North Jackson is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Jackson
- Lenoxville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lenoxville is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenoxville
- Lakeview
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeview is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Gibson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gibson is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Brandt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brandt is located in Susquehanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandt
- Broome County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Deposit
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gulf Summit
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gulf Summit is located in Broome County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf Summit
- Delaware County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Pea Brook
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Pea Brook is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Brook
- Rock Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Rock Valley is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Valley
- Hancock
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cadosia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cadosia is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadosia
- Chiloway
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Chiloway is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chiloway
- Peakville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Peakville is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peakville
- Cooks Falls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cooks Falls is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Falls
- Horton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Horton is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton
- Butternut Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Butternut Grove is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut Grove
- Harvard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Harvard is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
- Gregorytown
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gregorytown is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregorytown
- Shinhopple
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Corbett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Corbett is located in Delaware County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbett
- Orange County (NY)
- Paradise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Paradise is located in Orange County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Sullivan County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Cochecton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Callicoon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hortonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Narrowsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Falls Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Falls Mills is located in Sullivan County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
- Hankins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cochecton Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Long Eddy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- North Branch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tusten
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tusten is located in Sullivan County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tusten
- Jeffersonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Briscoe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Briscoe is located in Sullivan County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briscoe
- Acidalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Acidalia is located in Sullivan County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acidalia
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Damascus, see our County-by-County Page for West Damascus.
Cemeteries Near West Damascus ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Damascus.
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 Damascus - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Damascus covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bolkcom Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hillside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Overlook Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- East Dyberry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vine Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- St. Lucys Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glass Factory Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Schoonover Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- St. Francis Catholic Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Cove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (185 more) ...
- Lake Huntington Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- East Cochecton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
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 West Damascus had a population of 62 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Damascus, with the one closest to West Damascus listed first.
- Girdland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Girdland is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdland
- Galilee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Galilee is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
- Calkins
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Calkins is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calkins
- Tyler Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Rileyville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rileyville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rileyville
- Siko
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Siko is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siko
- Torrey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Torrey is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torrey
- Boyds Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Boyds Mills is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyds Mills
- Milanville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Milanville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milanville
- Damascus
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cochecton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Tanners Falls
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tanners Falls is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanners Falls
- Continue List (22 more) ...
- Dyberry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dyberry is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyberry
- Carley Brook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carley Brook is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carley Brook
- Cold Spring
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cold Spring is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Damascus. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Damascus.
Newspapers Published in West Damascus ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Damascus.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Damascus, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Damascus.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Damascus:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Wayne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lackawanna County
- Pike County
- Susquehanna County
- Broome County
- Delaware County
- Orange County
- Sullivan 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 West Damascus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- West Damascus) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |