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 Alston (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 Alston. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Alston is located in Barbour County.
To see how the shape of West 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 Barbour County: Harrison, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker & Upshur.
Below are the counties that are near Alston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alston:
- Barbour County (The home county of Alston)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Belington
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Valley Bend
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmoth ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
- Huffman ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Huffman is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Junior
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Junior is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Clements ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clements is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
- Calhoun
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Audra
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Audra is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Audra
- Kalamazoo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kalamazoo is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
- Vannoys Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vannoys Mill is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoys Mill
- Union
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Tygart Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tygart Junction is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tygart Junction
- Meriden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Meriden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Craigmoor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Craigmoor is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigmoor
- Lost Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lost Creek is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
- Quiet Dell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Quiet Dell is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quiet Dell
- Anmoore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stonewood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stonewood is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,702 people
- McWhorter
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- McWhorter is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWhorter
- Bridgeport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Despard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Despard is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Despard
- Nutter Fort
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Nutter Fort is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutter Fort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,501 people
- Clarksburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Milford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Milford is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 609 people
- Adamston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Adamston is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamston
- Gore
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gore is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gore
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Aberdeen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Aberdeen is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
- Berlin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Berlin is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Garton Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Jane Lew
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Alkires Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Cox Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Cox Town is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
- Crawford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Lightburn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Lightburn is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightburn
- Smith Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Smith Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Village
- Westfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Westfield is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Weston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Valley Chapel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Hebron
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hebron is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Hammond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hammond is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Neel ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Neel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Samaria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Samaria is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Colfax
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Colfax is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Eldora
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eldora is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldora
- Whitehall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Whitehall is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 666 people
- Pendleton County
- Onego
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Onego is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onego
- Pocahontas County
- Wildell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wildell is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildell
- Preston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Macomber
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Macomber is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomber
- Independence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Independence is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Newburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sell is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sell
- Rowlesburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tunnelton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Horse Shoe Run
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Horse Shoe Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Shoe Run
- Threefork Bridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Threefork Bridge is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Threefork Bridge
- Aurora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Carmel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Carmel is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel
- Gladesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Gladesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Tigheville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Tigheville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigheville
- Weaver
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Weaver is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Gilman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gilman is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Whyte
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whyte is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whyte
- Montrose
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Montrose is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Leadsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leadsville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadsville
- Womelsdorf
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Womelsdorf is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womelsdorf
- Population from the 2020 Census: 235 people
- Elkins
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Canfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Canfield is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Midvale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Midvale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Pettit ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pettit is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettit
- Beverly
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cassity
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Sandy ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Sandy is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Stone House ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Stone House is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
- Brydon
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Brydon is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
- Astor
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Astor is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
- Knottsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- Webster
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Yates ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Yates is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Flemington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Flemington is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- West Grafton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Fetterman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- Grafton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Pruntytown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Pruntytown is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruntytown
- Thornton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Tucker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Pleasant Run
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Run is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Porterwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Porterwood is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterwood
- Parsons
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hambleton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hambleton is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
- Hendricks
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hendricks is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
- Elk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Elk is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
- Gladwin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Gladwin is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Coketon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Coketon is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coketon
- Canaan Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Thomas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pierce
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pierce is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Davis
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Swamp Run
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Swamp Run is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swamp Run
- Gormley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gormley is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormley
- Excelsior
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Excelsior is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Teter
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Teter is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teter
- Sand Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Run is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Run
- Overhill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Overhill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overhill
- Reger
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Reger is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reger
- Tallmansville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Queens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Queens is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
- Buckhannon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Tenmile
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tenmile is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Sago
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sago is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sago
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alston, see our County-by-County Page for Alston.
Cemeteries Near Alston ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alston.
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 Alston - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alston covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Old Rights Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Elliott Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Coffman / Harding Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barbour Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Holbert Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lovett Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Booth Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Durrett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain State Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Coffman Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jerusalem Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (246 more) ...
- Mt. Nebo Methodist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Little Arlington Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Arlington Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Little Arlington Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Leadsville.
- The Little Arlington Cemetery has also been known as:
- American Legion Little Arlington Cemetery
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 Alston in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alston.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alston, with the one closest to Alston listed first.
- Belington
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Wilmoth ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
- Huffman ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Huffman is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Flora ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Flora is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flora
- Talbott
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Talbott is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talbott
- Calhoun
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Calhoun is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Gilman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gilman is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Whyte
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whyte is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whyte
- Kerens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Kerens is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerens
- Meadowville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Meadowville is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowville
- Leadsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leadsville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadsville
- Montrose
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Montrose is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Kirt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kirt is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirt
- Kalamazoo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Kalamazoo is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
- Vannoys Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vannoys Mill is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoys Mill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alston. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alston.
Newspapers Published in Alston ...
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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alston.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alston, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alston.
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 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 Alston:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Barbour County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Harrison County
- Lewis County
- Marion County
- Pendleton County
- Pocahontas County
- Preston County
- Randolph County
- Taylor County
- Tucker County
- Upshur County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West 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 Alston, 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- Alston) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |