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 Patterson (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 Patterson. 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.
Patterson 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 Patterson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Patterson:
- Buchanan County (The home county of Patterson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Matney
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Mavisdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Janey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Paynesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Grundy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Royal City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Jackson Flats
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Vansant
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Height
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Height is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Rowe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Leemaster
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Peapatch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Peapatch is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Dickenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Haysi
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bucu
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Carrie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Aily
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Tarpon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Clinchco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Nora
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Omaha
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Clintwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Herald
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Darwin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Russell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Russell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Dye
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Honaker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Artrip
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Barnett
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Elk Garden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Spring City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Cleveland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Lebanon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Dante
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Jessees Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- 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
- Cardwell Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Broadford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Saltville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Red Ash
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Raven
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Richlands
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Claypool Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Steeleburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Pounding Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dunford Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Dunford Village is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunford Village
- Sayersville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Sayersville is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayersville
- Paintlick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Maxwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Maxwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Wise County
- Saint Paul
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Paw Paw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
- Fedscreek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Mouthcard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Stopover
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Stopover is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stopover
- Coleman
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Coleman is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Majestic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Majestic is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
- Lick Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Phelps
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Calloway Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Calloway Branch is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calloway Branch
- Elkhorn City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cedarville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Belcher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Logan County (WV)
- Wylo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wylo is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylo
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Paynesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Jackson Flats
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Height
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Peapatch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Bradshaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Avondale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Avondale is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Yukon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Yukon is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yukon
- Panther
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Iaeger
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Union City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Union City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- War
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- War is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War
- Population from the 2020 Census: 659 people
- Wyoming City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Wyoming City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Wharncliffe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gilbert Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Gilbert Creek is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert Creek
- Baisden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Gilbert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Thacker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Pie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Pie is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
- Blackberry City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Matewan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Musick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Musick is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
- Red Jacket
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Sprigg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Wyoming County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Cub City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cub City is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cub City
- Baileysville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Baileysville is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileysville
- Stoneville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stoneville is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
- Woosley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Woosley is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woosley
- Fanny
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fanny is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fanny
- Sun Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sun Hill is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
- Uno
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Uno is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uno
- Clear Fork
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Fork is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Fork
- Wyoming
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Patterson, see our County-by-County Page for Patterson.
Cemeteries Near Patterson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Patterson.
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 Patterson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Patterson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Brown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Davis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ward Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- McClanahan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rife Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Compton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mullins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cantrell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Looney Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Keen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Compton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (808 more) ...
- Lynn Fork Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Baldwin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Baldwin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Patterson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Patterson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Patterson, with the one closest to Patterson listed first.
- Shack Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Shack Mills is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shack Mills
- Grundy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bradshaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bearwallow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bearwallow is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
- Pleasant Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Big Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Bee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bee is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Davenport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Doran
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Paw Paw
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
- Duty
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Duty is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duty
- Richlands
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Iaeger
(15 miles [24.1 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
- Colley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colley is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colley
- Swords Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Patterson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Patterson.
Newspapers Published in Patterson ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Patterson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Patterson, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Patterson.
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 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 Patterson:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Buchanan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dickenson County
- Russell County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Wise County
- Pike County
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Mingo County
- Wyoming 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Patterson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Patterson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |