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 Pocahontas (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 Pocahontas. 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 doctors and 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.
Pocahontas is located in Tazewell 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 Tazewell County: Bland, Buchanan, Russell, Smyth, McDowell (WV) & Mercer (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Pocahontas. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pocahontas:
- Tazewell County (The home county of Pocahontas)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Yards
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Falls Mills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Boissevain
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Clair
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bluefield
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Abbs Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Springville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Shawver Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Wittens Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Little Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Bishop
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Five Oaks
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Five Oaks is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Oaks
- Bland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Rocky Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hicksville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bastian
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Round Bottom
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mechanicsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Bearwallow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Peapatch
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Height
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Jackson Flats
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Paynesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Glen Lyn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Shumate
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lurich
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rich Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Narrows
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Thessalia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Ellendale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Atkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Rural Retreat
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Wytheville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Crockett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Kent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Logan County (WV)
- Rich Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Anawalt
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Anawalt is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anawalt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Elkhorn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kyle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Keystone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Northfork
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Thorpe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Big Four
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kimball
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gary
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gary is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
- Population from the 2020 Census: 759 people
- Bishop
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Newhall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Welch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mercer County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Nemours
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Coopers
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Yards
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bramwell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Freeman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coaldale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Flipping
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Montcalm
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Montcalm is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montcalm
- Bluefield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Littlesburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Weyanoke
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Monroe County (WV)
- Peterstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Raleigh County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Rhodell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rhodell is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Eastgulf
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Helen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ury
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Princewick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Coal City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Coal City is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Slab Fork
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Stotesbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sophia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sullivan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Glen White
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lester is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 312 people
- Summers County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Pipestem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
- True
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Bud
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mullens
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Woosley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mullensville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pineville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fanny
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Keyrock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rock View
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stoneville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Turkey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Baileysville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pocahontas, see our County-by-County Page for Pocahontas.
Cemeteries Near Pocahontas ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pocahontas.
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 Pocahontas - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pocahontas covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Bryant Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Pocahontas Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mohawk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mohawk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mohawk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mohawk Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Green Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Green Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Page Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Witten Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Rye Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Delp Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Continue List (452 more) ...
- Music Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Isaac Bell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Coopers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Pocahontas had a population of 2,953 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Pocahontas had a population of 348 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pocahontas, with the one closest to Pocahontas listed first.
- Coopers
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Falls Mills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Abbs Valley ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Abbs Valley is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley
- Freeman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bramwell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coaldale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Maybeury
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Saint Clair
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Flipping
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Switchback
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Switchback is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switchback
- Duhring
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Duhring is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duhring
- Ennis
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ennis is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ennis
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bailey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
- Bluefield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Elkhorn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pocahontas. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pocahontas.
Newspapers Published in Pocahontas ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pocahontas.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pocahontas, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pocahontas.
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 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 Pocahontas:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Tazewell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bland County
- Buchanan County
- Giles County
- Smyth County
- Wythe County
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Raleigh County
- Summers 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> | 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 Pocahontas, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Pocahontas) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |