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 Torch (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 Torch. 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 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.
Torch is located in Athens County.
To see how the shape of Ohio's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Athens County: Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, Washington & Wood (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Torch. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Torch:
- Athens County (The home county of Torch)
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Youba
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Youba is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youba
- Coolville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vanderhoof
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vanderhoof is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderhoof
- Beebe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Beebe is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe
- Stewart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stewart is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart
- Guysville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Guysville is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guysville
- Big Run
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Big Run is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Carsey Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Carsey Town is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsey Town
- Armadale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Armadale is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armadale
- Pratts Fork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pratts Fork is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratts Fork
- Amesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mudsock ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mudsock is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudsock
- Gallia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Carlton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carlton is located in Gallia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlton
- Cheshire
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cheshire is located in Gallia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheshire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Kyger
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kyger is located in Gallia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyger
- Hocking County
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Orbiston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Orbiston is located in Hocking County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orbiston
- Jobs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jobs is located in Hocking County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jobs
- Murray City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Town is located in Hocking County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Candy Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Candy Town is located in Hocking County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Candy Town
- New Pittsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Pittsburg is located in Hocking County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Pittsburg
- Meigs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Tuppers Plains
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Keno
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Keno is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keno
- Bashan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bashan is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bashan
- Portland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Spiller
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Spiller is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spiller
- Dorcas
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Dorcas is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcas
- Welshtown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Welshtown is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welshtown
- Racine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Syracuse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pomeroy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Thomas Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Thomas Village is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas Village
- Lima
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lima is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Chesterhill
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Joy
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Joy is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Todds
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Todds is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todds
- Wrightstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wrightstown is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightstown
- Stockport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Westland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Westland is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westland
- Elliott Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elliott Crossroads is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott Crossroads
- Neelysville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Neelysville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neelysville
- Hackney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hackney is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackney
- Malta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- McConnelsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morganville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morganville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganville
- Morganville has also been known as:
- Morgan
- Wolf Creek
- Noble County
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Dungannon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Dungannon is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungannon
- Crooked Tree
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Crooked Tree is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crooked Tree
- Perry County
- Corning
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Moonville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Moonville is located in Vinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moonville
- Vales Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Vales Mills is located in Vinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vales Mills
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Redbush
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Redbush is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbush
- Fillmore
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Fillmore is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Porterfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Porterfield is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterfield
- Decaturville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Decaturville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decaturville
- Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Corner is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Rockland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rockland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Napier
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Napier is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Belpre
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Vincent
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Vincent is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Barlow
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Barlow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Watertown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Watertown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
- Wolf Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Wolf Creek is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Jackson County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Neptune
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Neptune is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Mozelle ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Mozelle is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mozelle
- Willowdale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Willowdale is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowdale
- Browning ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Browning is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Skull Run
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Skull Run is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skull Run
- Beatysville ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beatysville is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beatysville
- Medina
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Medina is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medina
- Sherman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sherman is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Ravenswood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wilding
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Wilding is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilding
- Willow Grove ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Willow Grove is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Garfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Garfield is located in Jackson County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Mason County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Hartford City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hartford City is located in Mason County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 593 people
- Mason
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- New Haven
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clifton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clifton is located in Mason County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- West Columbia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- West Columbia is located in Mason County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Columbia
- Letart
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Letart is located in Mason County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letart
- Sassafras
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sassafras is located in Mason County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassafras
- Flatrock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Flatrock is located in Mason County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatrock
- York
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- York is located in Mason County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Pleasants County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Willow Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Willow Island is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Island
- Horseneck
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Horseneck is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horseneck
- Belmont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Belmont is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 853 people
- Schultz
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Schultz is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schultz
- Ritchie County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Petroleum
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Petroleum is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petroleum
- Cisco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cisco is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisco
- Rusk
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rusk is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
- Oxbow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Oxbow is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxbow
- Roane County (WV)
- Reedy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Reedy is located in Roane County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Wirt County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Windy
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Windy is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy
- Greencastle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Greencastle is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greencastle
- Newark
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Newark is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Freeport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Freeport is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
- Elizabeth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Palestine
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Palestine is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Peewee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Peewee is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peewee
- Lucile
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lucile is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucile
- Burning Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burning Springs is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
- Wood County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Washington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wesley ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Wesley is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Blennerhassett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Blennerhassett is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blennerhassett
- Lubeck
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lubeck is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubeck
- Eli
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eli is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eli
- Pleasant View
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pleasant View is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Parkersburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Vienna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mineral Acres
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mineral Acres is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Acres
- Mineral Wells
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- North Hills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- North Hills is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 766 people
- Kanawha
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Kanawha is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Torch, see our County-by-County Page for Torch.
Cemeteries Near Torch ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Torch.
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 Torch - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Torch covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Old Torch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Torch Baptist Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch Baptist Cemetery
- The Torch Baptist Cemetery has also been known as:
- Torch Cemetery
- New Torch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Old Coolville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Frame Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Newberry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Little Hocking Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ireland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Coolville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Humphrey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stewart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hockingport Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (802 more) ...
- Bethany Christian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- New England Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meldahl Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
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 Torch had a population of 144 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Torch, with the one closest to Torch listed first.
- Youba
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Youba is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youba
- Coolville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Armenia ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Armenia is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armenia
- Hockingport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hockingport is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hockingport
- New England
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- New England is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New England
- Scott ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Scott is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
- Little Hocking
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wesley ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Wesley is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Washington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fillmore
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Fillmore is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Porterfield
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Porterfield is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterfield
- Frost
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Frost is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Vanderhoof
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vanderhoof is located in Athens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderhoof
- Joppa
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Joppa is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
- Eli
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eli is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eli
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Torch. See our List of 1890's Communities around Torch.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Torch ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Torch.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Torch. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Torch and those printed in the larger area surrounding Torch.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4> of Torch.
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 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 Torch:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Athens County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Gallia County
- Hocking County
- Meigs County
- Morgan County
- Noble County
- Perry County
- Vinton County
- Washington County
- Jackson County
- Mason County
- Pleasants County
- Ritchie County
- Roane County
- Wirt County
- Wood County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
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 Torch, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Torch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |