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 Purcell (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 Purcell. 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 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.
Purcell is located in Russell 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 Russell County: Buchanan, Dickenson, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington & Wise.
Below are the counties that are near Purcell. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Purcell:
- Russell County (The home county of Purcell)
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Cleveland
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Spring City
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Artrip
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Jessees Mill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Lebanon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Carterton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Barnett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Dickensonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dickensonville is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickensonville
- Elk Garden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Creswell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Creswell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Bickley Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
- Castlewood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bristol City
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Virginia Heights
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Virginia Heights is located in Bristol City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Heights
- Bristol
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Council
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Rowe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Leemaster
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Mavisdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Janey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Vansant
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Royal City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Grundy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Matney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Big Rock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Height
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Height is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Bearwallow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bearwallow is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
- Paynesville
(30 miles [48.3 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 Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Carrie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Bucu
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Aily
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Nora
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Herald
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Clinchco
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Haysi
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Omaha
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Tarpon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Darwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Clintwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Norton City
- Norton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Grigbys Store
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Grigbys Store is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grigbys Store
- Dungannon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Dungannon is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungannon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
- Nickelsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Maces Spring
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Maces Spring is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maces Spring
- Snowflake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Snowflake is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowflake
- Hiltons
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Blackmore
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lano
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Lano is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lano
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Allison Gap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Allison Gap is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
- Cardwell Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Saltville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Broadford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Chilhowie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Seven Mile Ford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Raven
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Red Ash
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Paintlick
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Richlands
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Steeleburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Cedar Bluff
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Claypool Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Pounding Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Harman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Maxwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Maxwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Brumley Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brumley Gap is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brumley Gap
- Holston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Holston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston
- Craigs Mill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Craigs Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs Mill
- Greendale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Greendale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Lowland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lowland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowland
- Glenford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Glenford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenford
- Lindell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Rust Hollow
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Rust Hollow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rust Hollow
- Leonard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Leonard is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
- Abingdon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Abingdon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,856 people
- Mendota
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mendota is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Benhams
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Benhams is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benhams
- Burson Place
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Burson Place is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burson Place
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Saint Paul
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Virginia City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Dwina
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Coeburn
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Wise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hamilton town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hamilton town is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton town
- Esserville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Esserville is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esserville
- Pound
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Almira
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Almira is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Haddonfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Blackwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Blackwood is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwood
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Ashcamp
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Elkhorn City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Hellier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hellier is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hellier
- Johnson County (TN)
- Winchester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Winchester is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
- Sullivan County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Bristol
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Forest Hills
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Forest Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Collingwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hunter Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hunter Hills is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Hills
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,854 people
- Holston Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Holston Valley is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston Valley
- Walnut Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Walnut Hill is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- Akard Addition
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Akard Addition is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akard Addition
- Cross
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cross is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross
- Estimated population in 2014: 11,330 people
- Ruthton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Ruthton is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthton
- Beechnut City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beechnut City is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechnut City
- Mill Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mill Point is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Point
- Estimated population in 2014: 11,080 people
- Fishdam ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fishdam is located in Sullivan County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishdam
- Blountville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Height
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Paynesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Peapatch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Purcell, see our County-by-County Page for Purcell.
Cemeteries Near Purcell ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Purcell.
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 Purcell - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Purcell covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Skeen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- McReynolds Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Clark Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Dye Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Breeding Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Fuller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Thompson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Brooks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Puckett Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Finney Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Continue List (1299 more) ...
- Jessee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Grizzle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
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 Purcell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Purcell.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Purcell, with the one closest to Purcell listed first.
- Cleveland
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Jessees Mill
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Artrip
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Lebanon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Carterton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Counts
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Counts is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Counts
- Dorado
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dorado is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorado
- Dickensonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dickensonville is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickensonville
- Hansonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hansonville is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hansonville
- Barnett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Bickley Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bickley Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bickley Mill
- Castlewood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Creswell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Creswell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Hawkins Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hawkins Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins Mill
- Elk Garden
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Purcell. See our List of 1890's Communities around Purcell.
Newspapers Published in Purcell ...
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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Purcell.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Purcell, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Purcell.
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 Purcell:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Russell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bristol City
- Buchanan County
- Dickenson County
- Norton City
- Scott County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wise County
- Pike County
- Johnson County
- Sullivan County
- McDowell 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 Purcell, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Purcell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |