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 Prater (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 Prater. 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 and hospitals 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.
Prater 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 Prater. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Prater:
- Buchanan County (The home county of Prater)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Leemaster
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Vansant
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Grundy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Royal City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Janey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Big Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Mavisdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Rowe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Council
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Matney
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Kelsa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kelsa is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
- Paynesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Dickenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Haysi
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Tarpon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Aily
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Clinchco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bucu
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Carrie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Nora
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Clintwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Omaha
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Darwin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Herald
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Norton City
- Norton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Russell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Russell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Artrip
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Dante
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Dye
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Cleveland
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Honaker
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Carterton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Jessees Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Spring City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Bickley Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
- Barnett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Scott County
- Dungannon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dungannon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungannon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Red Ash
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Raven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Richlands
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cedar Bluff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Claypool Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Paintlick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Steeleburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Harman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Pounding Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Brumley Gap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Brumley Gap is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brumley Gap
- Holston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Holston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Virginia City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Saint Paul
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Haddonfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Coeburn
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dwina
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Almira
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Almira is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Pound
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Wise
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Esserville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Esserville is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esserville
- Hamilton town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hamilton town is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton town
- Floyd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Beaver
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Galveston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Galveston is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Teaberry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Teaberry is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
- Melvin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Melvin is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
- Weeksbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Weeksbury is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
- Osborn
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Osborn is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Wheelwright
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
- Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
- Bypro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wheelwright Junction is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright Junction
- Letcher County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Burdine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Jenkins
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- McRoberts
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Cromona
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cromona is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
- Fleming - Neon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
- Hemphill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hemphill is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
- Hemphill has also been known as:
- Jackhorn
- Neon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Tolliver Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Tolliver Town is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolliver Town
- Seco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Seco is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
- Whitaker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Whitaker is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
- Millstone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Millstone is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millstone
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Elkhorn City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Mouthcard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Lick Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Fedscreek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Belcher
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Ashcamp
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Draffin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Draffin is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
- Marrowbone
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marrowbone is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marrowbone
- Hellier
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hellier is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellier
- Paw Paw
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
- Lookout
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lookout is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Paynesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Jackson Flats
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Height
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Peapatch
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Bradshaw
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Panther
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Wyoming City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
- Avondale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Avondale is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Iaeger
(26 miles [41.8 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Yukon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Yukon is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yukon
- War
(29 miles [46.7 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
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Thacker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Wharncliffe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blackberry City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Matewan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sprigg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Red Jacket
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Baisden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Creek is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert Creek
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Prater, see our County-by-County Page for Prater.
Cemeteries Near Prater ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Prater.
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 Prater - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Prater covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Owens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Deel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Viers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- O'Quin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Byers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Deel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Owens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Runyan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe Baldwin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe Baldwin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Monroe Baldwin Cemetery is located outside and to the northeast of Leemaster.
- The Monroe Baldwin Cemetery has also been known as:
- Baldwin Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2584001 <2>
- Looney Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Owens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (1044 more) ...
- Johnson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Boyd Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Looney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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>
While we didn't find Prater in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Prater.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Prater, with the one closest to Prater listed first.
- Colley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Colley is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colley
- Bee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bee is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Grundy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tarpon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Davenport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Aily
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Duty
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Duty is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duty
- Big Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Bucu
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Judge ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Judge is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judge
- Stratton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stratton is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratton
- Mouthcard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Shack Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Shack Mills is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shack Mills
- Ashcamp
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Clintwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Prater. See our List of 1890's Communities around Prater.
Newspapers Published in Prater ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Prater.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Prater, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Prater.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Prater:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Buchanan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dickenson County
- Norton City
- Russell County
- Scott County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wise County
- Floyd County
- Letcher County
- Pike County
- McDowell County
- Mingo 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> | 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 Prater, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Prater) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |