RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Virginia >> Giles County >> Narrows >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Narrows (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 Narrows. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Narrows is located in Giles 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 Giles County: Bland, Craig, Montgomery, Pulaski, Mercer (WV), Monroe (WV) & Summers (WV).

Below are the counties that are near Narrows. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Narrows:

  • Giles County     (The home county of Narrows)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Bluff City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Bluff City is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
    • Shumate
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Shumate is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
    • Rich Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Lurich
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lurich is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
    • Pearisburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Glen Lyn
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Glen Lyn is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • Thessalia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Thessalia is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
    • Poplar Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
    • Pembroke
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Eggleston
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Goodwins Ferry
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
    • Mountain Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Mountain Lake is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake
  • Bland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Mechanicsburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
    • Round Bottom
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Round Bottom is located in Bland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
    • Rocky Gap
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
    • Hicksville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hicksville is located in Bland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
    • Bastian
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
  • Craig County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Captain
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Captain is located in Craig County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captain
    • Huffman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Huffman is located in Craig County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
    • Simmonsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Simmonsville is located in Craig County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
  • Montgomery County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Prices Fork
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Prices Fork is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prices Fork
    • McBryde Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • McBryde Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBryde Village
    • Sundance Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Sundance Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sundance Village
    • Blacksburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Mount Tabor Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Mount Tabor Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor Village
    • Merrimac
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Merrimac is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
    • Childress
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Childress is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
    • Bennetts Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
    • Ellett
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Ellett is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
    • Christiansburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Houchins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Houchins is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
    • Old Farm Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Old Farm Village is located in Montgomery County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Farm Village
  • Pulaski County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Sassin ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Sassin is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
    • Parrott
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Parrott is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
    • Cowan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cowan is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
    • Hilton Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
    • Dublin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairlawn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
    • Newbern
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Wurno
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Wurno is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
    • Pulaski
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Draper
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Mack Creek Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
    • Snowville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Snowville is located in Pulaski County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowville
  • Radford City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • New Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • New Town is located in Radford City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Radford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Mill Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mill Village is located in Radford City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
    • Radford Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Radford Village is located in Radford City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
    • Sunset Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunset Village is located in Radford City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
    • Simpkins Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Bluefield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Falls Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
    • Yards
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Yards is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
    • Saint Clair
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
    • Pocahontas
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
  • Wythe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Locust Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Locust Hill is located in Wythe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
    • Max Meadows
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Fort Chiswell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
    • Kent
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kent is located in Wythe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
    • Siloam
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Siloam is located in Wythe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
    • Wytheville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenbrier County (WV)
    • Alderson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Alderson is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,111 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alderson <1>
  • Logan County (WV)
    • Rich Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Rich Creek is located in Logan County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
  • Mercer County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Willowton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Willowton is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
    • Elgood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Elgood is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
    • Oakvale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Oakvale is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
    • East River ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • East River is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
    • Athens
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Athens is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 890 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Athens <1>
    • Blake ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Blake is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake
    • Oak Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Oak Grove is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Princeton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • El Centro ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • El Centro is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Centro
    • Johnston Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Johnston Town is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnston Town
    • Edison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Edison is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
    • Bethel ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bethel is located in Mercer County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
  • Monroe County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Peterstown
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Ballard
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ballard is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
    • Assurance
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Assurance is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
    • Wikel
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wikel is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
    • Wayside
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Wayside is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
    • Creamery
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Creamery is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
    • Union
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Union is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
    • Wolfcreek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Wolfcreek is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfcreek
    • Hillsdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hillsdale is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Hollywood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hollywood is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
  • Raleigh County (WV)
  • Summers County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.
    • Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
    • Forest Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Pipestem
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Buck
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Buck is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck
    • True
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • True is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
    • Bargers Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Bargers Springs is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargers Springs
    • Packs Ferry
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Packs Ferry is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
    • Hilldale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Hilldale is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
    • Bellepoint
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Bellepoint is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellepoint
    • Lowell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Lowell is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
    • Talcott
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Nimitz
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Nimitz is located in Summers County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimitz

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Narrows, see our County-by-County Page for Narrows.

Cemeteries Near Narrows ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Narrows.

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 Narrows - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Narrows covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.

  • Hale Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Woolwine Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Hare Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Day Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Blankenship Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Adair Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Cedar Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Wilburn Valley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Peterstown Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Thessalia Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Birchlawn Burial Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (347 more) ...
    • Mason French Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Eatons Chapel Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Narrows had a population of 118 people in 1895 with railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Narrows had a population of 1,949 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Narrows, with the one closest to Narrows listed first.

  • Shumate
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Shumate is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
  • Bluff City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Bluff City is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
  • Rich Creek
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Rich Creek is located in Logan County (WV)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
  • Lurich
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lurich is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
  • Pearisburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Peterstown
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Glen Lyn
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Glen Lyn is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
  • Willowton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Willowton is located in Mercer County (WV)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
  • Thessalia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Thessalia is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
  • Prospectdale
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Prospectdale is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospectdale
  • Bane
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bane is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bane
  • Ripplemead
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Ripplemead is located in Giles County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripplemead
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Kimballton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Kimballton is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimballton
    • Poplar Hill
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
    • Wabash ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Wabash is located in Giles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Narrows. See our List of 1890's Communities around Narrows.

Newspapers Published in Narrows ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Narrows.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Narrows, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Narrows.

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 Narrows:

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 Narrows, 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- Narrows) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.