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 Meta (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 Meta. 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 and 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.
Meta 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 Meta. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Meta:
- Pike County (The home county of Meta)
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Varney
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Varney is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varney
- Sidney
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Raccoon
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Raccoon is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raccoon
- Canada
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kimper
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kimper is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimper
- Gulnare
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gulnare is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulnare
- Coal Run Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Pikeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Blair Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Blair Town is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Town
- Belfry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Huddy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Huddy is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huddy
- Forest Hills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hills is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Mayo Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mayo Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayo Village
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Betsy Layne
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Osborn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Osborn is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Harold
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Harold is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
- Stanville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Tram
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Tram is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tram
- Grethel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Grethel is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grethel
- Ivel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Galveston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Galveston is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Dana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Dana is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- Banner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Blue Moon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Blue Moon is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Moon
- Teaberry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Teaberry is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
- Allen
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- 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>
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Butcher Hollow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Butcher Hollow is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butcher Hollow
- Nero
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nero is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nero
- East Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Meally
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Meally is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meally
- Van Lear
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Van Lear
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- West Van Lear is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Van Lear
- Williamsport
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Williamsport is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
- Hagerhill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hagerhill is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerhill
- Thelma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Thelma is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Collista
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Collista is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collista
- Whitehouse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Whitehouse is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Denver
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Denver is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Paintsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Raven
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Raven is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Kite
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kite is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
- Mousie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mousie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousie
- Pippa Passes
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Garner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Garner is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Patrick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Patrick is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patrick
- Peach Orchard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Peach Orchard is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Orchard
- Richardson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Richardson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
- Ulysses ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ulysses is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulysses
- Ben Bow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ben Bow is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Bow
- Clifford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Clifford is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
- Georges Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Georges Creek is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Creek
- Letcher County
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Burdine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Hemphill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hemphill is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
- Hemphill has also been known as:
- Jackhorn
- McRoberts
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Jenkins
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Deane
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Deane is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
- Fleming - Neon
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Cromona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cromona is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
- Neon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tolliver Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tolliver Town is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolliver Town
- Magoffin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Gunlock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gunlock is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunlock
- Gapville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gapville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gapville
- Gypsy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Gypsy is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gypsy
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Pilgrim
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pilgrim is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Lovely
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lovely is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovely
- Beauty
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Beauty is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauty
- Debord
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Warfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hode
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hode is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hode
- Inez
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tomahawk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tomahawk is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
- Buchanan County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Big Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Kelsa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kelsa is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
- Grundy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Royal City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Vansant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Matney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Dickenson County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Haysi
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Tarpon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Clinchco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Clintwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Wise County (VA)
- Haddonfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Logan County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Stirrat
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stirrat is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stirrat
- Holden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Holden is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holden
- Omar
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Troy Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Troy Town is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy Town
- Switzer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Switzer is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
- Whitman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hedgeview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hedgeview is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedgeview
- Thompson Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson Town is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson Town
- Whirlwind
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Whirlwind is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whirlwind
- Wilkinson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Logan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Wyoming City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Wyoming City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
- Panther
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Williamson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chattaroy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Sprigg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Blackberry City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Matewan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Thacker
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Delbarton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Red Jacket
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Kermit
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Greyeagle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Greyeagle is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greyeagle
- Myrtle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtle is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Musick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Musick is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
- Pie
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Pie is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
- Wayne County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Stonecoal
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Stonecoal is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonecoal
- Wilsondale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Wilsondale is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsondale
- Doane
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Doane is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doane
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Meta, see our County-by-County Page for Meta.
Cemeteries Near Meta ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Meta.
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 Meta - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Meta covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Chestnut Point Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Pinson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Salem UMC Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem UMC Cemetery
- The Salem UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Salem Cemetery
- Ford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Scott Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Upper Joe's Creek Church of Christ Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Morris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Morris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Maynard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Lawson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lawson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Howard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (608 more) ...
- Williamson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Helvy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kingdom Hall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>
While we didn't find Meta in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Meta.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Meta, with the one closest to Meta listed first.
- Zebulon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Zebulon is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebulon
- Kimper
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kimper is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimper
- Canada
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Coal Run Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Pikeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gulnare
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gulnare is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulnare
- Fishtrap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Fishtrap is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishtrap
- Pinsonfork
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pinsonfork is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinsonfork
- Rural
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rural is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural
- Thomas
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Thomas is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
- Robinson Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Robinson Creek is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Creek
- Coleman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Coleman is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Pilgrim
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pilgrim is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Beaver
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Venters
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Venters is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venters
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Meta. See our List of 1890's Communities around Meta.
Newspapers Published in Meta ...
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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Meta.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Meta, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Meta.
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 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 Meta:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Pike County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Floyd County
- Johnson County
- Knott County
- Lawrence County
- Letcher County
- Magoffin County
- Martin County
- Buchanan County
- Dickenson County
- Wise County
- Logan County
- McDowell 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> | 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- Meta) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Meta, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |