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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 Alvon (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 Alvon. 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 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.

Alvon is located in Greenbrier County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Greenbrier County: Alleghany (VA), Bath (VA), Fayette, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Summers & Webster.

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

  • Greenbrier County     (The home county of Alvon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
    • Wild Meadow
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Meadow
      • Wild Meadow is located in Greenbrier County
    • Neola
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neola
      • Neola is located in Greenbrier County
    • Anthony
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony
      • Anthony is located in Greenbrier County
    • Spring Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
      • Spring Creek is located in Greenbrier County
    • White Sulphur Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Falling Spring
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Falling Spring have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
      • Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
    • Frankford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
      • Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
    • Tuckahoe
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
      • Tuckahoe is located in Greenbrier County
    • Clendenenville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clendenenville
      • Clendenenville is located in Greenbrier County
    • Caldwell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Unus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unus
      • Unus is located in Greenbrier County
    • Oscar
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oscar have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
      • Oscar is located in Greenbrier County
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
    • Hollywood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
      • Hollywood is located in Monroe County
    • Hillsdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hillsdale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
      • Hillsdale is located in Monroe County
    • Wolfcreek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfcreek
      • Wolfcreek is located in Monroe County
    • Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Union is located in Monroe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
  • Nicholas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
    • Peaser Junction ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Peaser Junction. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaser Junction
      • Peaser Junction is located in Nicholas County
    • Richwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Richwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richwood
      • Richwood is located in Nicholas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,842 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Richwood <1>
    • Carl
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carl have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
      • Carl is located in Nicholas County
    • Saxman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saxman have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
      • Saxman is located in Nicholas County
  • Pocahontas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
    • Hillsboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hillsboro have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
      • Hillsboro is located in Pocahontas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 236 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hillsboro <1>
    • Watoga ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Watoga have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
      • Watoga is located in Pocahontas County
    • Buckeye
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Huntersville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Marlinton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marlinton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlinton
      • Marlinton is located in Pocahontas County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 956 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marlinton <1>
    • Onoto
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
      • Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
    • Thorny Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
      • Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
    • Edray
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
      • Edray is located in Pocahontas County
  • Alleghany County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
    • Moss Run
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
      • Moss Run is located in Alleghany County (VA)
    • Low Moor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Rich Patch
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
      • Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County (VA)
    • Selma
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Selma have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
      • Selma is located in Alleghany County (VA)
    • Clifton Forge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Iron Gate
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Iron Gate have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
      • Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County (VA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Griffith
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Griffith have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
      • Griffith is located in Alleghany County (VA)
  • Bath County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
    • Greenwood ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
      • Greenwood is located in Bath County (VA)
    • Carloover
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
      • Carloover is located in Bath County (VA)
    • Healing Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
      • Healing Springs is located in Bath County (VA)
    • Mitchelltown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
      • Mitchelltown is located in Bath County (VA)
    • Warm Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Bath Alum
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bath Alum have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
      • Bath Alum is located in Bath County (VA)
  • Botetourt County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
    • Glen Wilton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
      • Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County (VA)
    • Strom
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Strom have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strom
      • Strom is located in Botetourt County (VA)
    • Haden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Haden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
      • Haden is located in Botetourt County (VA)
    • Gala
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
      • Gala is located in Botetourt County (VA)
  • Covington City (VA)
    • Covington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Covington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covington
      • Covington is located in Covington City (VA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,639 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Covington <1>
  • Craig County (VA)
    • New Castle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Alvon ...

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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alvon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alvon, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alvon.

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 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 Alvon:

Cemeteries Near Alvon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alvon.

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 Alvon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Hoke Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hoke Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hoke Cemetery
  • Watts Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Watts Chapel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Watts Chapel Cemetery
  • Enon Baptist Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Walnut Grove Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Walnut Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Walnut Grove Cemetery
  • Mountain Gate Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mountain Gate Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mountain Gate Cemetery
  • Morning Side Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Morning Side Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Morning Side Cemetery
  • Lewis Tunnel Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lewis Tunnel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lewis Tunnel Cemetery
  • Helmintoller Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Helmintoller Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Helmintoller Cemetery
  • Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pilgrim Rest Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
  • Smith Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Smith Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Smith Cemetery
  • Rosewood Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenbrier Memorial Gardens
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenbrier Memorial Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenbrier Memorial Gardens
  • Continue List   (78 more) ...
    • Kellison Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kellison Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kellison Cemetery
    • Sunset Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sunset Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sunset Cemetery
    • Old Stone Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Old Stone Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Old Stone Cemetery

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Alvon had a population of 109 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Sue
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sue have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sue
    • Sue is located in Greenbrier County
  • Mapledale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mapledale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapledale
    • Mapledale is located in Greenbrier County
  • White Sulphur Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Backbone
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Backbone have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Backbone
    • Backbone is located in Alleghany County (VA)
  • Callaghan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Callaghan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaghan
    • Callaghan is located in Alleghany County (VA)
  • Falling Spring
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Falling Spring have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
    • Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
  • Frankford
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
    • Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
  • Tuckahoe
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
    • Tuckahoe is located in Greenbrier County
  • Alleghany
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alleghany have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany
    • Alleghany is located in Alleghany County (VA)
  • Moss Run
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
    • Moss Run is located in Alleghany County (VA)
  • Renicks Valley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Renicks Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renicks Valley
    • Renicks Valley is located in Greenbrier County
  • Locust
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Locust have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
    • Locust is located in Pocahontas County
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Caldwell
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jacox
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jacox have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacox
      • Jacox is located in Pocahontas County
    • Richlands
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
      • Richlands is located in Greenbrier County

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

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Alvon. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of West Virginia: https://www.wv.gov/

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 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.
<3>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.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Alvon) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Alvon. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.9051, Longitude: -80.2142       In this case, the coordinates for Alvon have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<6>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 Alvon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 10 Mar 2024