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 Blackwell (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 Blackwell. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Blackwell is located in Washington County.
To see how the shape of Virginia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Washington County: Johnson (TN), Sullivan (TN), Grayson, Russell, Scott & Smyth.
Below are the counties that are near Blackwell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blackwell:
- Washington County (The home county of Blackwell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Clinchburg
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Clinchburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinchburg
- Lindell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Glenford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Glenford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenford
- Glade Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fleet
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lowland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lowland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowland
- Friendship
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Lodi
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lodi is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Brumley Gap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brumley Gap is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brumley Gap
- Loves Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loves Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Mill
- Abingdon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Abingdon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,856 people
- Watauga
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Watauga is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watauga
- Bristol City
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Virginia Heights
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Virginia Heights is located in Bristol City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Heights
- Bristol
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Council
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Rowe
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Mavisdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Janey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Bearwallow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bearwallow is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
- Leemaster
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Vansant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dickenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Carrie
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Bucu
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Aily
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Grayson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Whitetop
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Trout Dale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rugby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Flat Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Elk Garden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Barnett
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Lebanon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Honaker
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spring City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Dye
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Artrip
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Cleveland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Jessees Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Russell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Russell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Creswell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Creswell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Scott County
- Grigbys Store
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Grigbys Store is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grigbys Store
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Allison Gap
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Allison Gap is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
- Cardwell Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Saltville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chilhowie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Seven Mile Ford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
- Broadford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Adwolf
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Adwolf is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adwolf
- Ellendale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ellendale is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Marion
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mount Carmel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Carmel is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Atkins
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sugar Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Paintlick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Steeleburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Claypool Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Raven
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Cedar Bluff
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Richlands
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Pounding Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Red Ash
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Asberrys
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Asberrys is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asberrys
- Maxwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Maxwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Harman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Thompson Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson Valley is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson Valley
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Saint Paul
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Virginia City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Dwina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Ashe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Grayson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grayson is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Apple Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Apple Grove is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Brandon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brandon is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Roten
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Roten is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Sturgills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sturgills is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
- Ashland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Helton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Helton is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Comet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Comet is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Lansing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Creston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Carter County (TN)
- Buladeen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Buladeen is located in Carter County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buladeen
- Former names for Buladeen:
- Colesville
- Magnetic
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Shingletown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
- Fuller
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Winchester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Winchester is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
- Mountain City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Sullivan County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Holston Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Holston Valley is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston Valley
- Forest Hills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Forest Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Fishdam ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Fishdam is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
- Hunter Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hunter Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,854 people
- Bristol
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ruthton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ruthton is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthton
- Collingwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Hill is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- Akard Addition
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Akard Addition is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akard Addition
- Cedar Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Cross
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cross is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross
- Estimated population in 2014: 11,330 people
- McDowell County (WV)
- Bishop
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bishop is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blackwell, see our County-by-County Page for Blackwell.
Cemeteries Near Blackwell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blackwell.
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 Blackwell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blackwell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Thomas Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Moore Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Worley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Broady Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Snodgrass Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- McNew Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Mahanaim Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Eastridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wolf Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gosby Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Snead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Emory & Henry Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (1085 more) ...
- Helton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Montgomery Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Tumbling Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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>
While we didn't find Blackwell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blackwell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blackwell, with the one closest to Blackwell listed first.
- Lindell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Glenford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Glenford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenford
- Shortsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shortsville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shortsville
- Meadowview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Emory
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Glade Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Saltville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rockdell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rockdell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdell
- Lowland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lowland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowland
- Elk Garden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Brumley Gap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brumley Gap is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brumley Gap
- Lodi
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lodi is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Friendship
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Rosedale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rosedale is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
- Chilhowie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blackwell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blackwell.
Newspapers Published in Blackwell ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blackwell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blackwell, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blackwell.
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 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 Blackwell:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bristol City
- Buchanan County
- Dickenson County
- Grayson County
- Russell County
- Scott County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Wise County
- Ashe County
- Carter County
- Johnson County
- Sullivan County
- McDowell County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
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 Blackwell, 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- Blackwell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |