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 Nelse (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 Nelse. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Nelse 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 Nelse. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Nelse:
- Pike County (The home county of Nelse)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Garden Village
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Garden Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Marrowbone
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Marrowbone is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marrowbone
- Shelbiana
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shelbiana is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbiana
- Fords Branch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fords Branch is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Branch
- Draffin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Draffin is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
- Yeager
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Yeager is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeager
- Raccoon
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Raccoon is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raccoon
- Mayo Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mayo Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayo Village
- Rockhouse
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rockhouse is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
- Belcher
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Belcher is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Robinson Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Robinson Creek is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Creek
- Phyllis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Phyllis is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phyllis
- Lookout
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lookout is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Osborn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Osborn is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Galveston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Galveston is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Beaver
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Teaberry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Teaberry is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
- Grethel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Grethel is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grethel
- Betsy Layne
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harold
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harold is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
- Melvin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Melvin is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Weeksbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Weeksbury is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
- Blue Moon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Blue Moon is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Moon
- Stanville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bypro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hi Hat
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Nero
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nero is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nero
- Butcher Hollow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Butcher Hollow is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butcher Hollow
- East Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Van Lear
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Kite
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Kite is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
- Raven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Raven is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Mousie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mousie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousie
- Pippa Passes
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Pine Top
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Garner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Garner is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Leburn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Redfox
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Redfox is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfox
- Hindman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Littcarr
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Littcarr is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
- Letcher County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Burdine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- McRoberts
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Hemphill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hemphill is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
- Hemphill has also been known as:
- Jackhorn
- Jenkins
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Neon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Deane
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Deane is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
- 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
- Farraday
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Farraday is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farraday
- Magoffin County
- Gunlock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gunlock is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunlock
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Pilgrim
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pilgrim is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Debord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lovely
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lovely is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovely
- Beauty
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Beauty is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauty
- Warfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Buchanan County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Big Rock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Kelsa
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Kelsa is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
- Grundy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Royal City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Leemaster
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Vansant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Janey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Matney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Mavisdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Council
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Council is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Rowe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Paynesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Dickenson County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Tarpon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Haysi
(15 miles [24.1 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
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Clintwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Darwin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Omaha
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Aily
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Nora
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Bucu
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Herald
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Carrie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Russell County (VA)
- Dante
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dante is located in Russell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Wise County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Haddonfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Almira
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Almira is located in Wise County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Pound
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Paynesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Blackberry City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Sprigg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Williamson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Matewan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thacker
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Chattaroy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Red Jacket
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Delbarton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Musick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Musick is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
- Myrtle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Myrtle is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
- Pie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pie is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
- Wharncliffe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Greyeagle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Greyeagle is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greyeagle
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Nelse, see our County-by-County Page for Nelse.
Cemeteries Near Nelse ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Nelse.
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 Nelse - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Nelse covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Blackburn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rest Haven Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Justice Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Annie E Young Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sowards Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Potter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Justice Ivy Fork Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Collins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Collins Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the northeast of Robinson Creek.
- The Collins Cemetery has also been known as:
- Collins Street Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2484503 <3>
- Ratliff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- 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 <3>
- Anderson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (706 more) ...
- Peggy Sword Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson Memorial Cemetery
- The Johnson Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
- Johnson Cemetery
- Compton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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 Nelse in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Nelse.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Nelse, with the one closest to Nelse listed first.
- Fishtrap
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fishtrap is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishtrap
- Robinson Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Robinson Creek is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Creek
- Venters
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Venters is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venters
- Lookout
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lookout is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Pikeville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kimper
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kimper is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimper
- Ashcamp
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Zebulon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Zebulon is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebulon
- Mouthcard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Coal Run Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Dorton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Big Rock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Pinsonfork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pinsonfork is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinsonfork
- Beefhide
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- 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 Nelse. See our List of 1890's Communities around Nelse.
Newspapers Published in Nelse ...
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 10 newspapers that have been published in the area around Nelse.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Nelse, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Nelse.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Nelse:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Pike County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Floyd County
- Johnson County
- Knott County
- Letcher County
- Magoffin County
- Martin County
- Buchanan County
- Dickenson County
- Russell 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Nelse) 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 Nelse, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |