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 Thomas (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 Thomas. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Thomas 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 Thomas. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thomas:
- Buchanan County (The home county of Thomas)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Big Rock
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Grundy
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Royal City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Royal City is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
- Kelsa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kelsa is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
- Vansant
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Matney
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Matney is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
- Leemaster
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Leemaster is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leemaster
- Janey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Janey is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
- Mavisdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
- Jackson Flats
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Paynesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Rowe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rowe is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe
- Council
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Council is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- Dickenson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Haysi
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tarpon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Clinchco
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Aily
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Aily is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aily
- Bucu
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bucu is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucu
- Clintwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carrie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Carrie is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrie
- Nora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Nora is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nora
- Omaha
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Omaha is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omaha
- Darwin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Darwin is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darwin
- Herald
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Herald is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herald
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Russell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Russell is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Dye
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Honaker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Artrip
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Artrip is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artrip
- Dante
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dante is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dante
- Cleveland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cleveland is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleveland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 170 people
- Carterton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Carterton is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carterton
- Jessees Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jessees Mill is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessees Mill
- Kiser ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kiser is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kiser
- Spring City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Spring City is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring City
- Barnett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Red Ash
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Red Ash is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Raven
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Raven is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
- Richlands
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harman is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
- Steeleburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Claypool Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Haddonfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Haddonfield is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonfield
- Almira
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Almira is located in Wise County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almira
- Pound
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Floyd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Beaver
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Beaver is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Galveston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Galveston is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Osborn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Osborn is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- Teaberry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Teaberry is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaberry
- Harold
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Harold is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
- Grethel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Grethel is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grethel
- 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
- Betsy Layne
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stanville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tram
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tram is located in Floyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tram
- Bypro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hi Hat
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Letcher County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Burdine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Burdine is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
- Jenkins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- McRoberts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- McRoberts is located in Letcher County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoberts
- Hemphill
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Pike County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Fedscreek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fedscreek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedscreek
- Mouthcard
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Paw Paw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
- Lick Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lick Creek is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lick Creek
- Coleman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coleman is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Calloway Branch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Calloway Branch is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calloway Branch
- Cedarville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Elkhorn City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Phelps
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Phyllis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Phyllis is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phyllis
- Belcher
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
- Stopover
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Stopover is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stopover
- Draffin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Draffin is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draffin
- Logan County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Stirrat
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Stirrat is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stirrat
- Omar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wylo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wylo is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylo
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Jackson Flats
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
- Paynesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Paynesville is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
- Panther
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Panther is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
- Wyoming City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wyoming City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
- Height
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Height is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
- Bradshaw
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Iaeger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Iaeger is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iaeger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
- Avondale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Avondale is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Peapatch
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Peapatch is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
- Union City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Union City is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Wilmore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wilmore is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmore
- Yukon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Yukon is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yukon
- Roderfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Roderfield is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roderfield
- Mingo County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Thacker
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Thacker is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
- Blackberry City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Blackberry City is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
- Wharncliffe
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Matewan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sprigg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sprigg is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
- Red Jacket
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Red Jacket is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
- Baisden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gilbert Creek is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert Creek
- Musick
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Musick is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
- Pie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Pie is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
- Williamson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gilbert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chattaroy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Chattaroy is located in Mingo County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
- Wyoming County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Cub City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cub City is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cub City
- Uno
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Uno is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uno
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Thomas, see our County-by-County Page for Thomas.
Cemeteries Near Thomas ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thomas.
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 Thomas - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Thomas covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Stiltner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ramey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Looney Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hackney Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cantrell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Shortridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Belcher Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Shortridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Owens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ratliff Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (861 more) ...
- Flanary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mullins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Little Josie Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Thomas in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Thomas.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Thomas, with the one closest to Thomas listed first.
- Big Rock
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Big Rock is located in Buchanan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Grundy
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mouthcard
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mouthcard is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouthcard
- Paw Paw
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
- Coleman
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coleman is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Jamboree
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Jamboree is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamboree
- Phelps
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Colley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Colley is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colley
- Tarpon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tarpon is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tarpon
- Kimper
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kimper is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimper
- Fishtrap
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fishtrap is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishtrap
- Venters
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Venters is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venters
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Ashcamp
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
- Bee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Bee is located in Dickenson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee
- Pinsonfork
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pinsonfork is located in Pike County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinsonfork
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Thomas. See our List of 1890's Communities around Thomas.
Newspapers Published in Thomas ...
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 5 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thomas.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thomas, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thomas.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Thomas:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Buchanan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dickenson County
- Russell County
- Tazewell County
- Wise County
- Floyd County
- Letcher County
- Pike County
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Mingo 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> | 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 Thomas, 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' (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- Thomas) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |