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 Breaks (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 Breaks. 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.
Breaks is located in Dickenson 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 Dickenson County: Pike (KY), Buchanan, Russell & Wise.
Below are the counties that are near Breaks. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Breaks:
- Dickenson County (The home county of Breaks)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Haysi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Tarpon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Clinchco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Clintwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Aily
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Bucu
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Nora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Omaha
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Darwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Carrie
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Herald
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Big Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Grundy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Royal City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Vansant
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Leemaster
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Janey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Kelsa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kelsa is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
- Matney
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Mavisdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Rowe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Council
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Paynesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Dante
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Russell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Russell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Artrip
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Dye
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Cleveland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Honaker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Carterton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Jessees Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Spring City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Bickley Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
- Castlewood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Red Ash
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Raven
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Richlands
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Haddonfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Almira
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Almira is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Pound
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Coeburn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Virginia City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Dwina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Wise
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton town is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton town
- Esserville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Esserville is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esserville
- Floyd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Galveston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Galveston is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Teaberry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Teaberry is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
- Beaver
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Osborn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Osborn is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Melvin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Melvin is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Weeksbury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Weeksbury is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
- Grethel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Grethel is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grethel
- Bypro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright Junction is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright Junction
- Wheelwright
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Harold
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Harold is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
- Hi Hat
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Knott County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Kite
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Kite is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
- Raven
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Raven is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Letcher County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Burdine
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Jenkins
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- McRoberts
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Cromona
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cromona is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
- Fleming - Neon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
- Hemphill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hemphill is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
- Hemphill has also been known as:
- Jackhorn
- Neon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tolliver Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tolliver Town is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolliver Town
- Whitaker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Whitaker is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
- Seco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Seco is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
- Deane
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Deane is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deane
- Millstone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Millstone is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Elkhorn City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cedarville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Lick Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Belcher
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Mouthcard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Fedscreek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Draffin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Draffin is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
- Marrowbone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Marrowbone is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marrowbone
- Ashcamp
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Rockhouse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Rockhouse is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
- Hellier
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hellier is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellier
- Lookout
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lookout is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Paynesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Jackson Flats
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Panther
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Wyoming City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
- Height
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Bradshaw
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Peapatch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Iaeger
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Iaeger is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iaeger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
- Avondale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Avondale is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Union City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Union City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Blackberry City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Thacker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Matewan
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sprigg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Wharncliffe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Red Jacket
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Williamson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Musick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Musick is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
- Chattaroy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Baisden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Creek is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert Creek
- Pie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pie is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Breaks, see our County-by-County Page for Breaks.
Cemeteries Near Breaks ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Breaks.
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 Breaks - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Breaks covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Looney Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mullins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Little Josie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mullins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mullins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Willis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Owens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Musick Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Willis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ramey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hackney Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Honey Fork Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (967 more) ...
- Fay Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hall Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
While we didn't find Breaks in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Breaks.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Breaks, with the one closest to Breaks listed first.
- Big Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Mouthcard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Ashcamp
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Tarpon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Venters
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Venters is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venters
- Colley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Colley is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colley
- Grundy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lookout
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lookout is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Fishtrap
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fishtrap is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishtrap
- Clintwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bee is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Paw Paw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Coleman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Coleman is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Kimper
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Kimper is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimper
- Aily
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Breaks. See our List of 1890's Communities around Breaks.
Newspapers Published in Breaks ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Breaks.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Breaks, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Breaks.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Breaks:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Dickenson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buchanan County
- Russell County
- Tazewell County
- Wise County
- Floyd County
- Knott County
- Letcher County
- Pike County
- McDowell County
- Mingo 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> | 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 Breaks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Breaks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |