Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Laurel. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Laurel to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Laurel, please Contact Us.
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 Laurel (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 Laurel. 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 northwest 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 north.
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 north 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Laurel is historic, it would have been located within present day Russell 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 Russell County: Buchanan, Dickenson, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington & Wise.
Below are the counties that are near Laurel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Laurel:
- Russell County (The home county of Laurel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Artrip
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Dante
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Carterton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Jessees Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Spring City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Bickley Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
- Castlewood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lebanon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dickensonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Dickensonville is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickensonville
- Barnett
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Bristol City
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Virginia Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Virginia Heights is located in Bristol City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Heights
- Bristol
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Council
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Leemaster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Rowe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Vansant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mavisdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Royal City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Janey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Grundy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Big Rock
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Matney
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Paynesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Height
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Height is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Dickenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Carrie
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Bucu
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Aily
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Nora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Herald
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Clinchco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Haysi
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Omaha
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Tarpon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Clintwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Darwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Norton City
- Norton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Grigbys Store
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Grigbys Store is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grigbys Store
- Dungannon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dungannon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungannon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Nickelsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lano
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lano is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lano
- Maces Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Maces Spring is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maces Spring
- Fort Blackmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Snowflake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Snowflake is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowflake
- Hiltons
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Allison Gap
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Allison Gap is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
- Cardwell Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Saltville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Broadford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Raven
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Red Ash
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Richlands
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Paintlick
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Cedar Bluff
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Claypool Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Steeleburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Pounding Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Harman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Holston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Holston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston
- Brumley Gap
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brumley Gap is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brumley Gap
- Craigs Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Craigs Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs Mill
- Greendale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Greendale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Lowland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Lowland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowland
- Leonard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Leonard is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
- Mendota
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mendota is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Glenford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Glenford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenford
- Lindell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Rust Hollow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rust Hollow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rust Hollow
- Benhams
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Benhams is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benhams
- Abingdon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Abingdon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,856 people
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Saint Paul
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Virginia City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Dwina
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Coeburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Wise
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hamilton town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hamilton town is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton town
- Esserville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Esserville is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esserville
- Pound
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Haddonfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Almira
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Almira is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Blackwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Blackwood is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwood
- Kent Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kent Junction is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent Junction
- Letcher County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Burdine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Jenkins
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cromona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cromona is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
- McRoberts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Fleming - Neon
(30 miles [48.3 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
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tolliver Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tolliver Town is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolliver Town
- Whitaker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Whitaker is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Ashcamp
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Elkhorn City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Belcher
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Hellier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hellier is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellier
- Lick Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Mouthcard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Draffin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Draffin is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
- Lookout
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lookout is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Rockhouse
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rockhouse is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
- Fedscreek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Dorton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sullivan County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Bristol
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Collingwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Forest Hills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Forest Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Hunter Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hunter Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,854 people
- Walnut Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Walnut Hill is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Paynesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Height
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Jackson Flats
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Peapatch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Laurel, see our County-by-County Page for Laurel.
Cemeteries Near Laurel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Laurel.
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 Laurel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Laurel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Kiser Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Kiser Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Powers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Kiser Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kiser Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kiser Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Breeden Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Musick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gilbert Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (1256 more) ...
- Musick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rasnake Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
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.
While we didn't find Laurel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Laurel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
- Bucu
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Judge ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Judge is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judge
- Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Artrip
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Duty
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Duty is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duty
- John
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- John is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John
- Counts
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Counts is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Counts
- Carterton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Jessees Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Davenport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bee
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bee is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Aily
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Dorado
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dorado is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorado
- Saint Paul
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bickley Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Laurel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Laurel.
Newspapers Published in Laurel ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Laurel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Laurel, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Laurel.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Laurel:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Russell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bristol City
- Buchanan County
- Dickenson County
- Norton City
- Scott County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wise County
- Letcher County
- Pike County
- Sullivan County
- McDowell County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Laurel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Laurel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |