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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 Wise (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 Wise. 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.

Name Variations for Wise ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

In past government published Postal Guides, Wise was referred to as Wise Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Wise. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Wise.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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 northwest 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 north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Wise is located in Wise County and is the County Seat.

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 Wise County: Harlan (KY), Letcher (KY), Pike (KY), Dickenson, Lee, Russell & Scott.

Below are the counties that are near Wise. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wise:

  • Wise County     (The home county of Wise)
  • Buchanan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Council
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Leemaster
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Dickenson County
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Darnell Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Darnell Town is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell Town
    • Keokee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Rawhide
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Dryden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Stickleyville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Ely
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Ely is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
    • Pennington Gap
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Charles
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Charles is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Charles
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
  • Norton City
    • Norton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Russell County
  • Scott County
  • Washington County
  • Floyd County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Weeksbury
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Weeksbury is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksbury
    • Melvin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Melvin is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
    • Wheelwright
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Wheelwright is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheelwright
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 487 people
    • Bypro
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Wheelwright Junction
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Beaver
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Hi Hat
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Harlan County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Lynch
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Benham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Benham is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benham <1>
    • Cumberland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Chad
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Holmes Mill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Holmes Mill is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmes Mill
    • Closplint
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Closplint is located in Harlan County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Closplint
    • Louellen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Totz
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Dizney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Knott County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Redfox
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kite
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Kite is located in Knott County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kite
    • Pine Top
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Littcarr
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Littcarr is located in Knott County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littcarr
    • Pippa Passes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Pippa Passes is located in Knott County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pippa Passes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 606 people
  • Letcher County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Eolia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Eolia is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eolia
    • Jenkins
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Oven Fork
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Burdine
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Burdine is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdine
    • Mayking
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cromona
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cromona is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromona
    • Ermine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Ermine is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ermine
    • Seco
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Seco is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seco
    • Sergent
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Tolliver Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Whitaker
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Farraday
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fleming - Neon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Fleming - Neon is located in Letcher County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming - Neon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 610 people
  • Perry County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Delphia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Delphia is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delphia
    • Cornettsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Cornettsville is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornettsville
    • Slemp
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Slemp is located in Perry County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slemp
  • Pike County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Dorton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Ashcamp
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Ashcamp is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcamp
    • Myra
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Myra is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
    • Hellier
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Jonancy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jonancy is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonancy
    • Lookout
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Lookout is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lookout
    • Virgie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Virgie is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Virgie
    • Rockhouse
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Rockhouse is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhouse
    • Elkhorn City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cedarville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedarville is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
    • Draffin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Belcher
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Belcher is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcher
    • Marrowbone
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Hawkins County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Frisco
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Greenvale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Waycross
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Waycross is located in Hawkins County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waycross
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,091 people
    • Rotherwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Block City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Block City is located in Hawkins County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Block City
    • Green Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Green Village is located in Hawkins County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Village
    • Mount Carmel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Solitude ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Sullivan County (TN)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.
    • Morrison City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Morrison City is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison City
    • Bloomingdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Beartown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Cherokee Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Cherokee Village is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Village
    • Horace ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Horace is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horace
    • Orebank
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Rock City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Rock City is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
    • Borden Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Borden Village is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden Village
    • Harrtown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Harrtown is located in Sullivan County (TN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrtown
      • Estimated population in 2014: 4,365 people
    • Kingsport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Mill Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wise, see our County-by-County Page for Wise.

Cemeteries Near Wise ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wise.

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 Wise - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wise covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.

  • Wise Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Wells Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Beverly Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Gilliam Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Carter Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Wells Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hamilton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Hawthorne Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Laurel Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Gibson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Kilgore Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (1311 more) ...
    • Gilliam Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Hillman Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Gilliam Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>

While we didn't find Wise in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wise.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Wise, with the one closest to Wise listed first.

  • Tacoma
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Tacoma is located in Wise County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma
  • Hurricane
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hurricane is located in Wise County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurricane
  • Lipps
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lipps is located in Wise County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipps
  • Coeburn
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Banner
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Banner is located in Wise County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banner
  • Flat Gap
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Flat Gap is located in Wise County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
  • Pound
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Clinch
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Clinch is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinch
  • Dungannon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Dwina
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Big Stone Gap
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Wood
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Wood is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wise. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wise.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wise ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wise.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wise. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wise and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wise.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3> of Wise.

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 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 Wise:

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 Wise, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wise) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.