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 Putnam (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 Putnam. 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.
Putnam 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 Putnam. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Putnam:
- Russell County (The home county of Putnam)
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Honaker
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Dye
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Russell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Russell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Barnett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Elk Garden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Artrip
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Lebanon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Spring City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Cleveland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Jessees Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Carterton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Dante
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Bristol City
- Virginia Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Virginia Heights is located in Bristol City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia Heights
- Buchanan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Council
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Rowe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Mavisdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Janey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Leemaster
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Vansant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Royal City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Bearwallow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bearwallow is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
- Height
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Height is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Grundy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Matney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Peapatch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Peapatch is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Jackson Flats
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Dickenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Carrie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Bucu
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Aily
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Nora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Haysi
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clinchco
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tarpon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Herald
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Omaha
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Clintwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Darwin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Grigbys Store
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grigbys Store is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grigbys Store
- 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
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Allison Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Allison Gap is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
- Cardwell Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Saltville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Broadford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Chilhowie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ellendale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Ellendale is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Seven Mile Ford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
- Adwolf
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Adwolf is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adwolf
- Marion
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Carmel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Carmel is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Raven
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Red Ash
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Paintlick
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Richlands
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Steeleburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Claypool Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Cedar Bluff
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pounding Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Harman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Maxwell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Maxwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Dunford Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dunford Village is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunford Village
- Pisgah
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pisgah is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Sayersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sayersville is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayersville
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Brumley Gap
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Brumley Gap is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brumley Gap
- Lindell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Clinchburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clinchburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinchburg
- Glenford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Glenford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenford
- Lowland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lowland is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowland
- Holston
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Holston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holston
- Greendale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Greendale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greendale
- Glade Spring
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Fleet
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Abingdon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Abingdon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abingdon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,856 people
- Craigs Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Craigs Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs Mill
- Rust Hollow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rust Hollow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rust Hollow
- Friendship
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Friendship is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Saint Paul
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Virginia City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Virginia City is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virginia City
- Dwina
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dwina is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwina
- Coeburn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Elkhorn City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Paw Paw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
- Cedarville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Mouthcard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Ashcamp
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Fedscreek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Lick Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Height
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Peapatch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Jackson Flats
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Paynesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Bradshaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bishop
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bishop is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Newhall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Newhall is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
- War
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- War is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War
- Population from the 2020 Census: 659 people
- Yukon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Yukon is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yukon
- Avondale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Avondale is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Union City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Union City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Putnam, see our County-by-County Page for Putnam.
Cemeteries Near Putnam ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Putnam.
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 Putnam - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Putnam covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Ball Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Stump Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Counts Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Miller Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Honaker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Howard Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Combs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Harris Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Whitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Thompson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Howard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jessee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (1103 more) ...
- Hess Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hess Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hess Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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 Putnam in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Putnam.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Putnam, with the one closest to Putnam listed first.
- Honaker
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Swords Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Rosedale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rosedale is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
- Belfast
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Belfast is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belfast
- Barnett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Elk Garden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Clifton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Doran
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Artrip
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Rockdell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rockdell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockdell
- Lebanon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Richlands
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Davenport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cleveland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Steeleburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Putnam. See our List of 1890's Communities around Putnam.
Newspapers Published in Putnam ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Putnam.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Putnam, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Putnam.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Putnam:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Russell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bristol City
- Buchanan County
- Dickenson County
- Scott County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wise County
- Pike 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 Putnam, 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 from Point A (ie- Putnam) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |