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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 North Smithfield (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 North Smithfield. 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 North Smithfield ...

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 have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for North Smithfield: N. Smithfield

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 doctors and hospitals 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.

North Smithfield is located in Providence County.

To see how the shape of the state's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Providence County: Windham (CT), Bristol (MA), Norfolk (MA), Worcester (MA), Bristol & Kent.

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

  • Providence County     (The home county of North Smithfield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • North Smithfield
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Smithfield have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Smithfield
      • North Smithfield is located in Providence County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,576 people
    • Primrose
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Union Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Union Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Village
      • Union Village is located in Providence County
    • Branch Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Slatersville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Smithfield
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Hamlet
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hamlet. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
      • Hamlet is located in Providence County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hamlet
      • From North Smithfield to Hamlet
    • Woonsocket
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hanton City ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hanton City. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanton City
      • Hanton City is located in Providence County
      • Hanton City has also been known as:
      • Lost City
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hanton City
      • From North Smithfield to Hanton City
    • Nasonville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Cumberland Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Glendale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Bristol County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • Annawomscutt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Barrington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barrington have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
      • Barrington is located in Bristol County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,015 people
    • Barrington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Warren
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Warren have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Warren is located in Bristol County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,469 people
    • Bristol
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bristol have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
      • Bristol is located in Bristol County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,866 people
    • Bristol
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Coggeshall
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Kent County
  • Newport County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • Melville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Melville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
      • Melville is located in Newport County
    • Portsmouth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Tiverton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tiverton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiverton
      • Tiverton is located in Newport County
    • Jamestown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jamestown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
      • Jamestown is located in Newport County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,482 people
    • Portsmouth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Portsmouth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portsmouth
      • Portsmouth is located in Newport County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,108 people
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • Mount View
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Austin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Exeter
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Lewis City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lewis City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis City
      • Lewis City is located in Washington County
    • Wickford Junction
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Wickford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Belleville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Exeter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Exeter have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Exeter is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,531 people
    • North Kingstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Kingstown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Kingstown
      • North Kingstown is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,278 people
    • North Kingstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Allenton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Arcadia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • New London County (CT)
    • Voluntown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Voluntown have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voluntown
      • Voluntown is located in New London County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,500 people
  • Windham County (CT)
  • Bristol County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • Attleborough City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Attleborough City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attleborough City
      • Attleborough City is located in Bristol County (MA)
    • North Attleboro
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Attleboro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Attleboro
      • North Attleboro is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29,470 people
    • Attleboro Falls
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Attleboro Falls have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attleboro Falls
      • Attleboro Falls is located in Bristol County (MA)
    • North Seekonk
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Seekonk have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Seekonk
      • North Seekonk is located in Bristol County (MA)
    • Attleboro
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Briggs Corner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Seekonk
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Seekonk have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seekonk
      • Seekonk is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,851 people
    • Chartley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chartley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartley
      • Chartley is located in Bristol County (MA)
    • Mansfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Rehoboth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rehoboth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
      • Rehoboth is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,503 people
    • South Rehoboth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Rehoboth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rehoboth
      • South Rehoboth is located in Bristol County (MA)
    • Norton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Middlesex County (MA)
  • Norfolk County (MA)
  • Plymouth County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • Cochesett
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Brockton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • West Bridgewater
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Bridgewater have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bridgewater
      • West Bridgewater is located in Plymouth County (MA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,310 people
    • Bridgewater
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Montello
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • East Bridgewater
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Elmwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elmwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
      • Elmwood is located in Plymouth County (MA)
  • Suffolk County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • Readville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Readville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Readville
      • Readville is located in Suffolk County (MA)
    • Stonybrook Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stonybrook Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonybrook Village
      • Stonybrook Village is located in Suffolk County (MA)
    • Hyde Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • West Roxbury
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Roslindale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Worcester County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Smithfield, with the one closest to North Smithfield listed first.
    • Blackstone
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blackstone have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackstone
      • Blackstone is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,209 people
    • Millville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
      • Millville is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,236 people
    • Millerville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • East Blackstone
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Uxbridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Uxbridge have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uxbridge
      • Uxbridge is located in Worcester County (MA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,352 people
    • Mendon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • South Milford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • North Uxbridge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • White City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
      • White City is located in Worcester County (MA)
    • Linwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Linwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
      • Linwood is located in Worcester County (MA)
    • Douglas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • East Douglas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near North Smithfield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of North Smithfield.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<8>

While we didn't find North Smithfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of North Smithfield.

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

  • Primrose
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Field Station ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Field Station have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Field Station
    • Field Station is located in Providence County
  • Tarkiln
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tarkiln have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarkiln
    • Tarkiln is located in Providence County
  • Forestdale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Forestdale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestdale
    • Forestdale is located in Providence County
  • Smithfield
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Slatersville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Manville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Manville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Manville is located in Providence County
  • Hamlet
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hamlet. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
    • Hamlet is located in Providence County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Hamlet
    • From North Smithfield to Hamlet
  • Woonsocket
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Blackstone
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blackstone have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackstone
    • Blackstone is located in Worcester County (MA)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,209 people
  • Nasonville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Millville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Millville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
    • Millville is located in Worcester County (MA)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,236 people
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Stillwater
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stillwater have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwater
      • Stillwater is located in Providence County
    • Cumberland Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Glendale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in North Smithfield ...

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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around North Smithfield.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of North Smithfield, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for North Smithfield.

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 North Smithfield:

The official website for North Smithfield: www.northsmithfieldri.com/

The official website for State of Rhode Island: https://www.ri.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- North Smithfield) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in North Smithfield. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.9652, Longitude: -71.5508    
<5>The Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission (RIHCC) has created and maintains a database of cemeteries. More information about the RIHCC can be found on their website: rihistoriccemeteries.org.
<6>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.
<7>The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MACRIS (for the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System). More information about the MHC and MACRIS can be found on their website: mhc-macris.net.

When visiting the MACRIS website, you might encounter their page requiring the 'Acceptance of Terms'. With your acceptance, you'll be transfered to the desired page.

<8>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 North Smithfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025