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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 Osaka (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 Osaka. 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.

Osaka is located in Wise 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 Wise County: Harlan (KY), Letcher (KY), Pike (KY), Dickenson, Lee, Russell & Scott.

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

  • Wise County     (The home county of Osaka)
  • Dickenson County
  • Lee County
  • Norton City
    • Norton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Russell County
  • Scott County
  • Floyd County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Weeksbury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Weeksbury is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
    • Wheelwright
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Wheelwright is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Bypro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Melvin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Melvin is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
    • Wheelwright Junction
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Harlan County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Lynch
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Benham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Benham is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benham <1>
    • Cumberland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Holmes Mill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Holmes Mill is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Mill
    • Chad
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Closplint
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Closplint is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Closplint
    • Louellen
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Totz
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Dizney
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Short Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Short Town is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Town
    • Darkmont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Kenvir
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Kenvir is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenvir
  • Knott County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Redfox
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Littcarr
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Littcarr is located in Knott County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
    • Pine Top
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Sassafras
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Kite
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Kite is located in Knott County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
    • Pippa Passes
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Pippa Passes is located in Knott County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
    • Hindman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Leburn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Garner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Garner is located in Knott County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garner
    • Carrie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Tina
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Emmalena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Leslie County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Yeaddiss
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Yeaddiss is located in Leslie County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeaddiss
    • Cutshin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Smilax
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Smilax is located in Leslie County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smilax
    • Chappell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Letcher County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Partridge
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Partridge is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Partridge
    • Eolia
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Eolia is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eolia
    • Oven Fork
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Flint
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Kings Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Linefork
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Whitesburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ermine
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Ermine is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ermine
    • Uz
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • West Whitesburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Gordon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Gordon is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
    • Bellcraft
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Perry County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Delphia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Delphia is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphia
    • Slemp
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Slemp is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slemp
    • Cornettsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Cornettsville is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornettsville
    • Happy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Happy is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy
    • Scuddy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Vicco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Vicco is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vicco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 295 people
    • Acup
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Viper
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Viper is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viper
    • Jeff
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hardburly
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hazard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Tribbey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Pike County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Dorton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Myra
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Myra is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
    • Jonancy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jonancy is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonancy
    • Virgie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Virgie is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
    • Ashcamp
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
    • Hellier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hancock County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Willis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Willis is located in Hancock County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
      • Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
    • Kyles Ford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Hawkins County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Waycross
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Waycross is located in Hawkins County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waycross
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,091 people
    • Frisco
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenvale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Block City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Block City is located in Hawkins County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Block City
    • Mount Carmel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Church Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Green Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Green Village is located in Hawkins County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Village
    • New Canton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Rotherwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Solitude ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Greenland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Sullivan County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osaka, with the one closest to Osaka listed first.
    • Morrison City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Morrison City is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison City
    • Beartown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bloomingdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cherokee Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cherokee Village is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village

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

Cemeteries Near Osaka ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Osaka.

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

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

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

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.<4>

While we didn't find Osaka in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Osaka.

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

  • Big Stone Gap
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Partridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Partridge is located in Letcher County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Partridge
  • Oven Fork
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Olinger
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Olinger is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olinger
  • Lipps
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lipps is located in Wise County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipps
  • Kings Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Linefork
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Flat Gap
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Flat Gap is located in Wise County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
  • Whitesburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Dryden
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Roxana
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Roxana is located in Letcher County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
  • Sergent
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Ely
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ely is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
    • Duffield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Duncan Mill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Duncan Mill is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan Mill

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

Newspapers Published in Osaka ...

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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Osaka.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Osaka, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Osaka.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Osaka:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Osaka) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Osaka, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.