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 Alvin (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 Alvin. 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 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.
Alvin is located in Floyd County.
To see how the shape of Kentucky's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Floyd County: Breathitt, Johnson, Knott, Magoffin, Martin & Pike.
Below are the counties that are near Alvin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alvin:
- Floyd County (The home county of Alvin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Dwale
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dwale is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwale
- Banner
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Allen
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Allen is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
- Allen has also been known as:
- Beaver Creek Junction
- Beaver Creek
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Allen <1>
- Watergap
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Watergap is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watergap
- Ivel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Prestonsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dana
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Dana is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Stanville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Tram
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Tram is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tram
- Martin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Betsy Layne
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Auxier
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Auxier is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auxier
- Breathitt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Rousseau
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Rousseau is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rousseau
- Bays
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bays is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bays
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Nero
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Nero is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nero
- Van Lear
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- East Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Butcher Hollow
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Butcher Hollow is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butcher Hollow
- Meally
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Meally is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meally
- Hagerhill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hagerhill is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerhill
- West Van Lear
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Van Lear is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Van Lear
- Williamsport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Williamsport is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
- Collista
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Collista is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collista
- Thelma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Thelma is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Denver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Denver is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Paintsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Raven
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Raven is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Mousie
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Mousie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousie
- Kite
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kite is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
- Garner
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Garner is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Pippa Passes
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pippa Passes is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Vest
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Leburn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hindman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tina
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tina is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tina
- Pine Top
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Carrie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Carrie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Emmalena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Emmalena is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmalena
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Patrick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Patrick is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patrick
- Peach Orchard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Peach Orchard is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Orchard
- Richardson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Richardson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
- Ulysses ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ulysses is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulysses
- Ben Bow
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ben Bow is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Bow
- Charley
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Charley is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charley
- Georges Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Georges Creek is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Creek
- Noris ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Noris is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noris
- Wilbur ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wilbur is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbur
- Cando ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cando is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cando
- Bumblebee ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bumblebee is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumblebee
- Clifford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Clifford is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
- Letcher County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Deane
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Deane is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
- Colson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Colson is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colson
- Hemphill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hemphill is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
- Hemphill has also been known as:
- Jackhorn
- McRoberts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Fleming - Neon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
- Neon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Magoffin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Gunlock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gunlock is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunlock
- Gapville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Gapville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gapville
- Gypsy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Gypsy is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gypsy
- Ivyton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Ivyton is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivyton
- Marshallville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Marshallville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshallville
- Painters Lick
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Painters Lick is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Painters Lick
- Royalton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Royalton is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royalton
- Sublett
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sublett is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sublett
- Falcon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Falcon is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
- Wheelersburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wheelersburg is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelersburg
- Lakeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lakeville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- Salyersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Debord
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tomahawk
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Tomahawk is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
- Inez
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pilgrim
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pilgrim is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Beauty
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Beauty is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauty
- Lovely
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lovely is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovely
- Warfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hode
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hode is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hode
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Ophir
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ophir is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophir
- Dingus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dingus is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dingus
- Jeptha
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jeptha is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeptha
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Gulnare
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gulnare is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulnare
- Blair Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blair Town is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Town
- Coal Run Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Run Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,494 people
- Owsley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Owsley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owsley
- Varney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Varney is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varney
- Pikeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mayo Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mayo Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayo Village
- Fords Branch
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fords Branch is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Branch
- Raccoon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Raccoon is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raccoon
- Sidney
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Shelbiana
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shelbiana is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbiana
- Garden Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Greyeagle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Greyeagle is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greyeagle
- Kermit
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Chattaroy
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Sprigg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Blackberry City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Delbarton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Myrtle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Myrtle is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Matewan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Red Jacket
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Thacker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Wayne County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Stonecoal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stonecoal is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonecoal
- Doane
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Doane is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doane
- Wilsondale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilsondale is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsondale
- Dunlow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dunlow is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlow
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alvin, see our County-by-County Page for Alvin.
Cemeteries Near Alvin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alvin.
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 Alvin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alvin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Weddington Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Sizemore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Davidson Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mayo Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lockhart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Davidson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scalf Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- May Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Porter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pitts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (619 more) ...
- Osborne Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborne Family Cemetery
- The Osborne Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Shepherd Cemetery
- Wright Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Van Burenvaughn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 Alvin in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alvin.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alvin, with the one closest to Alvin listed first.
- Dwale
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dwale is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwale
- Prestonsburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alphoretta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alphoretta is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alphoretta
- Thomas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Thomas is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
- Langley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Langley is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langley
- Gulnare
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gulnare is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulnare
- Dotson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Dotson is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
- Goodloe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Goodloe is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodloe
- East Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bonanza
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bonanza is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
- Coal Run Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coal Run Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Run Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,494 people
- Minnie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Minnie is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnie
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hueysville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- McDowell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lackey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lackey is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alvin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alvin.
Newspapers Published in Alvin ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alvin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alvin, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alvin.
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 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 Alvin:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Floyd County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Breathitt County
- Johnson County
- Knott County
- Lawrence County
- Letcher County
- Magoffin County
- Martin County
- Morgan County
- Pike County
- Mingo County
- Wayne County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Kentucky
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 Alvin, 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- Alvin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |