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 Penvir (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 Penvir. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Penvir 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 Penvir. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Penvir:
- Giles County (The home county of Penvir)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Shumate
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shumate is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Narrows
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Glen Lyn
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- 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 southeast)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Lurich
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lurich is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
- Rich Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Pearisburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Poplar Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Pembroke
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Eggleston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
- Mountain Lake
(19 miles [30.6 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 Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Mechanicsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Round Bottom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Round Bottom is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Rocky Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Hicksville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Bastian
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Carroll County
- Sylvatus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Captain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Captain is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captain
- Huffman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Huffman is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Simmonsville
(28 miles [45.1 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 Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Prices Fork
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Prices Fork is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prices Fork
- McBryde Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- McBryde Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBryde Village
- Sundance Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sundance Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sundance Village
- Blacksburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Merrimac
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Merrimac is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
- Mount Tabor Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Tabor Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor Village
- Childress
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Childress is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
- Christiansburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Riner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bennetts Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
- Ellett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Old Farm Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Old Farm Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Farm Village
- Raintree Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Raintree Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raintree Village
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Hilton Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Parrott
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Pulaski
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dublin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Cowan
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Newbern
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fairlawn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Draper
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mack Creek Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Snowville
(25 miles [40.2 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 Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- New Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Radford Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Radford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Mill Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Simpkins Village
(21 miles [33.8 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 Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Bluefield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
- Yards
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Yards is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
- Saint Clair
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Pocahontas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
- Boissevain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Boissevain is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boissevain
- Shawver Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Shawver Mill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawver Mill
- Little Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Springville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Springville is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Max Meadows
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Locust Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Locust Hill is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Fort Chiswell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
- Kent
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Wytheville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Siloam
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Siloam is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Austinville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Logan County (WV)
- Rich Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rich Creek is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- McDowell County (WV)
- Elkhorn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Elkhorn is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
- Mercer County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Willowton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Willowton is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
- Oakvale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Elgood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elgood is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
- East River ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- East River is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- Blake ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Blake is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake
- Athens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Princeton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- El Centro ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- El Centro is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Centro
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Edison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Edison is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
- Johnston Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Johnston Town is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnston Town
- Littlesburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Littlesburg is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlesburg
- Monroe County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Peterstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
- Assurance
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Wikel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
- Wayside
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wayside is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Creamery
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Creamery is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Union
(27 miles [43.5 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wolfcreek is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfcreek
- Hillsdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Raleigh County (WV)
- Shady Spring
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Summers County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
- Pipestem
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Forest Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- True
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- True is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
- Buck
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Buck is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck
- Bargers Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bargers Springs is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargers Springs
- Packs Ferry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Packs Ferry is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
- Bellepoint
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bellepoint is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellepoint
- Hilldale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hilldale is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
- Nimitz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Nimitz is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimitz
- Jumping Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jumping Branch is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumping Branch
- Talcott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Brooklin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brooklin is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklin
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Penvir, see our County-by-County Page for Penvir.
Cemeteries Near Penvir ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Penvir.
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 Penvir - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Penvir covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Blankenship Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hales Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Beamer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Day Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hare Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Thessalia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilburn Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Woolwine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakvale Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (372 more) ...
- Adair Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Clark Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Walkers Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
While we didn't find Penvir in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Penvir.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Penvir, with the one closest to Penvir listed first.
- Shumate
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shumate is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Willowton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Willowton is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
- Narrows
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Thessalia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Glen Lyn
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Glen Lyn is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Oakvale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Rich Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rich Creek is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- Lurich
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lurich is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
- Elgood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elgood is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
- Prospectdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Prospectdale is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prospectdale
- Bluff City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Holly Brook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Holly Brook is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Brook
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Wabash ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wabash is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash
- Pearisburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Peterstown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Penvir. See our List of 1890's Communities around Penvir.
Newspapers Published in Penvir ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Penvir.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Penvir, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Penvir.
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 websites either 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 Penvir:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Giles County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bland County
- Carroll County
- Craig County
- Montgomery County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Tazewell County
- Wythe County
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Raleigh County
- Summers 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> | 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 Penvir, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Penvir) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |