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 Murphy (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 Murphy. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Murphy is located in Buchanan 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 Buchanan County: Pike (KY), Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell, McDowell (WV) & Mingo (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Murphy. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Murphy:
- Buchanan County (The home county of Murphy)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Leemaster
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Council
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Rowe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Vansant
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Janey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Mavisdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Royal City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Grundy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Big Rock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Matney
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Jackson Flats
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Paynesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Dickenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Bucu
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Carrie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Aily
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Haysi
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Nora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Clinchco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Tarpon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Omaha
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Herald
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Clintwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Russell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Russell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Artrip
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Cleveland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Dante
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Honaker
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dye
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Carterton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Jessees Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Spring City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Lebanon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Barnett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Dungannon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dungannon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungannon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Grigbys Store
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Grigbys Store is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grigbys Store
- Nickelsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Cardwell Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Allison Gap
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Allison Gap is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
- Saltville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Broadford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Red Ash
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Raven
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Richlands
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Cedar Bluff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Claypool Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Paintlick
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Steeleburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Harman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Pounding Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Dunford Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Dunford Village is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunford Village
- Maxwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Maxwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Sayersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sayersville is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayersville
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Brumley Gap
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Brumley Gap is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brumley Gap
- Holston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Holston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston
- Craigs Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Craigs Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs Mill
- Glenford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Glenford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenford
- Lindell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Lowland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lowland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowland
- Greendale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Greendale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Clinchburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clinchburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinchburg
- Leonard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Leonard is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
- Mendota
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mendota is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Abingdon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Abingdon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,856 people
- Rust Hollow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rust Hollow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rust Hollow
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Saint Paul
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Virginia City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Dwina
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Coeburn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Haddonfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Pound
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Wise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Almira
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Almira is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Hamilton town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton town is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton town
- Esserville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Esserville is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esserville
- Letcher County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Burdine
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Jenkins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- McRoberts
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Cromona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cromona is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
- Fleming - Neon
(29 miles [46.7 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
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Tolliver Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Tolliver Town is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolliver Town
- Neon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Seco
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Seco is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
- 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 Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Elkhorn City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Ashcamp
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Lick Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Mouthcard
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Belcher
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Fedscreek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Draffin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Draffin is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
- Hellier
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hellier is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellier
- Lookout
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lookout is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- Rockhouse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rockhouse is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
- Marrowbone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Marrowbone is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marrowbone
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Jackson Flats
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Paynesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Height
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Peapatch
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Bradshaw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Panther
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Avondale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avondale is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Union City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Union City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- War
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- War is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War
- Population from the 2020 Census: 659 people
- Wyoming City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
- Yukon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yukon is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yukon
- Iaeger
(30 miles [48.3 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Murphy, see our County-by-County Page for Murphy.
Cemeteries Near Murphy ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Murphy.
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 Murphy - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Murphy covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Sutherland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- O'Quinn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Owens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Runyan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Johnson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Duty View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sutherland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lester Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Tiller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ball Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tiller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (1133 more) ...
- Breeding Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Boyd Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Farmer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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 Murphy in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Murphy.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Murphy, with the one closest to Murphy listed first.
- Bee
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bee is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Davenport
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Duty
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Duty is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duty
- Bucu
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Judge ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Judge is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judge
- Colley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Colley is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colley
- Aily
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Stratton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Stratton is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratton
- Tarpon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Artrip
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Grundy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- John
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- John is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Cleveland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Counts
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Counts is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Counts
- Honaker
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Murphy. See our List of 1890's Communities around Murphy.
Newspapers Published in Murphy ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Murphy.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Murphy, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Murphy.
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 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 Murphy:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Buchanan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dickenson County
- Norton City
- Russell County
- Scott County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wise County
- Letcher County
- Pike 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 Murphy, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Murphy) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |