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 Prestonsburg (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 Prestonsburg. 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.
Name Variations for Prestonsburg ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Another variation: Prestonburgh.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Prestonsburg is located in Floyd County and is the County Seat.
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 Prestonsburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Prestonsburg:
- Floyd County (The home county of Prestonsburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Auxier
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Auxier is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auxier
- Watergap
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Watergap is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watergap
- Dwale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dwale is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwale
- Allen
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- 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>
- Banner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blue River
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blue River is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
- Martin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Goodloe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Goodloe is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodloe
- Ivel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Manton ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Manton is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manton
- Dana
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dana is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dana
- David
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- David is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for David
- Breathitt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Bays
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bays is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bays
- Rousseau
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rousseau is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rousseau
- Rock Lick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Rock Lick is located in Breathitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Lick
- Elliott County
- Isonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Isonville is located in Elliott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isonville
- Johnson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- East Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Nero
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Nero is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nero
- Van Lear
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Butcher Hollow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Butcher Hollow is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butcher Hollow
- Hagerhill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hagerhill is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagerhill
- Meally
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Meally is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meally
- West Van Lear
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- West Van Lear is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Van Lear
- Collista
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Collista is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collista
- Denver
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Denver is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Paintsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Thelma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Thelma is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Asa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Asa is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asa
- Knott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Mousie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mousie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousie
- Raven
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Raven is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Vest
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Garner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Garner is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Pippa Passes
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Pippa Passes is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Kite
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kite is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
- Leburn
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Carrie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Carrie is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Pine Top
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- 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 Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Patrick
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Patrick is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patrick
- Ulysses ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ulysses is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ulysses
- Richardson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Richardson is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
- Peach Orchard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Peach Orchard is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Orchard
- Ben Bow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ben Bow is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Bow
- Charley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Charley is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charley
- Georges Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Georges Creek is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Creek
- Wilbur ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wilbur is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbur
- Noris ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Noris is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noris
- Cando ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Cando is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cando
- Cordell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Cordell is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordell
- Mattie ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mattie is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Letcher County
- Deane
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Deane is located in Letcher County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
- Magoffin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Gapville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gapville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gapville
- Gypsy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gypsy is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gypsy
- Ivyton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ivyton is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivyton
- Marshallville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Marshallville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshallville
- Painters Lick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Painters Lick is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Painters Lick
- Gunlock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gunlock is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunlock
- Royalton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Royalton is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royalton
- Falcon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Falcon is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
- Sublett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sublett is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sublett
- Wheelersburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wheelersburg is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelersburg
- Lakeville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Lakeville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- Salyersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Debord
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tomahawk
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tomahawk is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
- Inez
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beauty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beauty is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauty
- Pilgrim
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pilgrim is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
- Warfield
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Lovely
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lovely is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovely
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Ophir
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ophir is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophir
- Dingus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dingus is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dingus
- Jeptha
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jeptha is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeptha
- Crockett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Crockett is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockett
- Elkfork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elkfork is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkfork
- Cannel City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Cannel City is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannel City
- Malone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Malone is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone
- Perry County
- Ary
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Gulnare
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Gulnare is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulnare
- Blair Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blair Town is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Town
- Coal Run Village
(15 miles [24.1 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Owsley is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owsley
- Varney
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Varney is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varney
- Pikeville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mayo Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mayo Village is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayo Village
- Sidney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fords Branch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fords Branch is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Branch
- Raccoon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Raccoon is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raccoon
- Robinson Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Robinson Creek is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Creek
- Shelbiana
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Shelbiana is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelbiana
- Wolfe County
- Belknap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Belknap is located in Wolfe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Greyeagle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Greyeagle is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greyeagle
- Kermit
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chattaroy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Williamson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Wayne County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Stonecoal
(23 miles [37 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
- Dunlow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dunlow is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlow
- Wilsondale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wilsondale is located in Wayne County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsondale
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Prestonsburg, see our County-by-County Page for Prestonsburg.
Cemeteries Near Prestonsburg ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Prestonsburg.
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 Prestonsburg - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Prestonsburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- May Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Porter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Davidson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mayo Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Wright Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lockhart Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Van Burenvaughn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Van Burenvaughn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sizemore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Governors Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Music Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Music Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (614 more) ...
- Goble Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Blair Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Prestonsburg had a population of 305 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Prestonsburg had a population of 3,460 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Prestonsburg, with the one closest to Prestonsburg listed first.
- Dwale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dwale is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwale
- East Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dotson
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Dotson is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotson
- Bonanza
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bonanza is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
- Goodloe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Goodloe is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodloe
- Alphoretta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Alphoretta is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alphoretta
- Denver
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Denver is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denver
- Thomas
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Thomas is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
- Riceville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Riceville is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Langley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Langley is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langley
- Gapville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gapville is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gapville
- Barnetts Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Barnetts Creek is located in Johnson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnetts Creek
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gypsy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gypsy is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gypsy
- Gulnare
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Gulnare is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulnare
- Ivyton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ivyton is located in Magoffin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivyton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Prestonsburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around Prestonsburg.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Prestonsburg ...
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 5 newspapers that have been published in the area around Prestonsburg.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Prestonsburg. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Prestonsburg and those printed in the larger area surrounding Prestonsburg.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4> of Prestonsburg.
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 Prestonsburg:
- Websites specific to Kentucky
- Pages specific to Floyd County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Breathitt County
- Elliott County
- Johnson County
- Knott County
- Lawrence County
- Letcher County
- Magoffin County
- Martin County
- Morgan County
- Perry County
- Pike County
- Wolfe 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 Prestonsburg, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Prestonsburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |