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 Foraker (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 Foraker. 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 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.
Foraker 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 Foraker. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Foraker:
- Dickenson County (The home county of Foraker)
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Darwin
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Omaha
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Clintwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Nora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Herald
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Clinchco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tarpon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Aily
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Haysi
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bucu
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Carrie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Leemaster
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Council
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Vansant
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Royal City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Rowe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Big Rock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Grundy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mavisdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Janey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Darnell Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Darnell Town is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell Town
- Keokee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Keokee is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keokee
- Rawhide
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rawhide is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawhide
- Norton City
- Norton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Dante
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Bickley Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
- Castlewood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Carterton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Cleveland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Jessees Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Artrip
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Dickensonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dickensonville is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickensonville
- Creswell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Creswell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Spring City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Fugates Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fugates Hill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fugates Hill
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Dungannon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dungannon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungannon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Lano
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Lano is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lano
- Grigbys Store
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Grigbys Store is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grigbys Store
- Fort Blackmore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Nickelsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Snowflake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Snowflake is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowflake
- Maces Spring
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Maces Spring is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maces Spring
- Hiltons
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Duffield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gate City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Clinchport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clinchport is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinchport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Mendota
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mendota is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Craigs Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Craigs Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs Mill
- Leonard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leonard is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
- Holston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Holston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Pound
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Almira
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Almira is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Haddonfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Wise
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Coeburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hamilton town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton town is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton town
- Esserville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Esserville is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esserville
- Dwina
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Virginia City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Saint Paul
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Blackwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Blackwood is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwood
- Kent Junction
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kent Junction is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent Junction
- Floyd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Weeksbury
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Weeksbury is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
- Melvin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Melvin is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Wheelwright Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wheelwright Junction is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright Junction
- Wheelwright
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wheelwright is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Beaver
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Bypro
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Teaberry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Teaberry is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
- Hi Hat
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Galveston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Galveston is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Osborn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Osborn is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Dema
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dema is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dema
- McDowell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Harlan County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Lynch
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Benham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cumberland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Chad
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Chad is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chad
- Knott County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Kite
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kite is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
- Pine Top
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Top is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Redfox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Redfox is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redfox
- Littcarr
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Littcarr is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
- Pippa Passes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pippa Passes is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
- Raven
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Raven is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Garner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Garner is located in Knott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
- Letcher County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Burdine
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Jenkins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cromona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cromona is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
- McRoberts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Fleming - Neon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
- Neon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Seco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Seco is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
- Tolliver Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tolliver Town is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolliver Town
- Whitaker
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whitaker is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
- Hemphill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hemphill is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
- Hemphill has also been known as:
- Jackhorn
- Millstone
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Millstone is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
- Mayking
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Mayking is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayking
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Ashcamp
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Dorton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hellier
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hellier is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellier
- Myra
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Myra is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
- Lookout
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lookout is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Jonancy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jonancy is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonancy
- Rockhouse
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rockhouse is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
- Cedarville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Elkhorn City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Virgie
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Virgie is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
- Belcher
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Draffin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Draffin is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Foraker, see our County-by-County Page for Foraker.
Cemeteries Near Foraker ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Foraker.
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 Foraker - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Foraker covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Powers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Slemp Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Keith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lane Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Roberson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hibbitts Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Stanley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Ratliff Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rose Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Dotson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Continue List (1123 more) ...
- Robinson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lane Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Trivitt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles 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 Foraker in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Foraker.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Foraker, with the one closest to Foraker listed first.
- Hurricane
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hurricane is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
- Clintwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Stratton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Stratton is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratton
- Pound
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tacoma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Tacoma is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma
- Coeburn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Banner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Banner is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner
- Lipps
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lipps is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipps
- Tarpon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Aily
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Flat Gap
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Flat Gap is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
- Dwina
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Virginia City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- John
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- John is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John
- Beefhide
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Beefhide is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beefhide
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Foraker. See our List of 1890's Communities around Foraker.
Newspapers Published in Foraker ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Foraker.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Foraker, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Foraker.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Foraker:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Dickenson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Buchanan County
- Lee County
- Norton City
- Russell County
- Scott County
- Washington County
- Wise County
- Floyd County
- Harlan County
- Knott County
- Letcher County
- Pike 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 Foraker, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Foraker) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |