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 Federal (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 Federal. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Federal is located in Pike 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 Pike County: Floyd, Knott, Letcher, Martin, Buchanan (VA), Dickenson (VA), Wise (VA) & Mingo (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Federal. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Federal:
- Pike County (The home county of Federal)
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Cedarville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Elkhorn City
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Belcher
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Belcher is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Draffin
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Draffin is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
- Marrowbone
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Marrowbone is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marrowbone
- Lick Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Ashcamp
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Lookout
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lookout is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Rockhouse
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Rockhouse is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
- Hellier
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hellier is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellier
- Mouthcard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Fedscreek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Garden Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Galveston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Galveston is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Osborn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Osborn is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Teaberry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Teaberry is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
- Beaver
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Melvin
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Melvin is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Weeksbury
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Weeksbury is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
- Wheelwright Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Grethel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Grethel is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grethel
- Bypro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hi Hat
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Harold
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Harold is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
- Betsy Layne
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Kite
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kite is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
- Raven
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Raven is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Pine Top
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Pippa Passes
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pippa Passes is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Mousie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Mousie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousie
- Letcher County
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Burdine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Jenkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- McRoberts
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Cromona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cromona is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
- Fleming - Neon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
- Hemphill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hemphill is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
- Hemphill has also been known as:
- Jackhorn
- Neon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tolliver Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tolliver Town is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolliver Town
- Seco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Seco is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
- Whitaker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whitaker is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
- Millstone
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Millstone is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
- Deane
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Deane is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
- Farraday
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Farraday is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farraday
- Buchanan County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Big Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Grundy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Royal City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Vansant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Leemaster
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Janey
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Kelsa
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Kelsa is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
- Matney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Mavisdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Rowe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Council
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Council is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Paynesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Jackson Flats
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Dickenson County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Tarpon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Haysi
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Haysi is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haysi
- Population from the 2020 Census: 460 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Haysi <1>
- Clinchco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Clintwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Omaha
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Aily
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Nora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Darwin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Bucu
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Carrie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Herald
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Norton City (VA)
- Norton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Russell County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Dante
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Dante is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Russell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Russell is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Artrip
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Artrip is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Cleveland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Carterton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Carterton is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Kiser is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Bickley Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
- Castlewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Dye
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dye is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Honaker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Spring City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Spring City is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Tazewell County (VA)
- Red Ash
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Wise County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Haddonfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Almira
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Almira is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Pound
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Coeburn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Wise
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dwina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dwina is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Virginia City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Hamilton town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton town is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton town
- Saint Paul
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Esserville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Esserville is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esserville
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Paynesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Jackson Flats
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Panther
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Wyoming City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
- Bradshaw
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Height
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Sprigg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Blackberry City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Thacker
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Matewan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Williamson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Red Jacket
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Chattaroy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Wharncliffe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Musick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Musick is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
- Delbarton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pie is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Federal, see our County-by-County Page for Federal.
Cemeteries Near Federal ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Federal.
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 Federal - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Federal covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Honey Fork Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Ratliff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Wilson Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Draffin.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #76596 <2>
- Childers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childers Cemetery
- The Childers Cemetery has also been known as:
- Johnny Bear Cemetery
- Johnny Bear Childers Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2192030 <2>
- Hall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Willis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mullins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Little Josie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Colley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Looney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mullins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (933 more) ...
- Johnson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Newberry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wallace Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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 Federal in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Federal.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Federal, with the one closest to Federal listed first.
- Venters
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Venters is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venters
- Ashcamp
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Lookout
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lookout is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Mouthcard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Fishtrap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Fishtrap is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishtrap
- Tarpon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Big Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Robinson Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Robinson Creek is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Creek
- Dorton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Clintwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Colley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Colley is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colley
- Kimper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Kimper is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimper
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Grundy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pikeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Beefhide
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Beefhide is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beefhide
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Federal. See our List of 1890's Communities around Federal.
Newspapers Published in Federal ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Federal.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Federal, 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 Federal.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Federal:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Pike County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Floyd County
- Knott County
- Letcher County
- Buchanan County
- Dickenson County
- Norton City
- Russell County
- Tazewell County
- Wise County
- McDowell County
- Mingo 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 Federal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Federal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |