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 Alta (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 Alta. 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 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.
Alta is located in Greenbrier 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 Greenbrier County: Alleghany (VA), Bath (VA), Fayette, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Summers & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Alta. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alta:
- Greenbrier County (The home county of Alta)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Richlands
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Richlands is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
- Kieffer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kieffer is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kieffer
- Clendenenville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Clendenenville is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clendenenville
- Williamsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Unus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Unus is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unus
- Crawley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairlea
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lewisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Spring
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Fort Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spring
- Frazier
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Frazier is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier
- Frankford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Rockland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rockland is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Ronceverte
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Spring Dale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Spring Dale is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Dale
- Maywood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Maywood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Bellwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bellwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Meadow Bridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Meadow Bridge is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Bridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Hilton Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hilton Village is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Clifftop
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lookout
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alaska ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Alaska is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alaska
- East Sewell ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- East Sewell is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sewell
- Quinnimont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Quinnimont is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinnimont
- Red Ash ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Red Ash is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
- Sewell ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sewell is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell
- Keeneys Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Keeneys Creek is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneys Creek
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Wolfcreek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Wolfcreek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfcreek
- Hillsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hillsdale is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Creamery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Creamery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Hollywood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hollywood is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Union
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Union is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
- Wayside
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Wayside is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Wikel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
- Assurance
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Ballard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ballard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Peaser Junction ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Peaser Junction is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaser Junction
- Carl
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Carl is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Snow Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Hill is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Saxman
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Tolbert
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Tolbert is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolbert
- Richwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Odell Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Odell Town is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell Town
- Odell Town has also been known as:
- Odell
- Nettie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Runa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Runa is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runa
- Donald
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Hillsboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Watoga ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Watoga is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
- Raleigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Abraham
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Abraham is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abraham
- Royal ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Royal is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- Grandview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Grandview is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Terry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Terry is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terry
- Summers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Riffe
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Riffe is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riffe
- Lowell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lowell is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Talcott
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- New Richmond ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- New Richmond is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Richmond
- Sandstone
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Bargers Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bargers Springs is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargers Springs
- Hilldale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hilldale is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
- Bellepoint
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bellepoint is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellepoint
- Brooklin
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklin is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklin
- Hinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Buck
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Buck is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck
- Forest Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Packs Ferry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Packs Ferry is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
- Alleghany County (VA)
- Moss Run
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Moss Run is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Covington City (VA)
- Covington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Giles County (VA)
- Kire
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kire is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kire
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alta, see our County-by-County Page for Alta.
Cemeteries Near Alta ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alta.
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 Alta - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alta covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Harrah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Wallace Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- At The End Of The Trail Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Richardson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Old Stone Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Suttle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suttle
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Suttle is located 12 miles [19.3 km]<3> to the west of Lewisburg.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2342096 <2>
- Hanger Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rosewood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Amwell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coffman Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Greenbrier Memorial Gardens
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (115 more) ...
- Morgan Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Adwell Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Enon Baptist Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Alta had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alta, with the one closest to Alta listed first.
- Hughart
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hughart is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughart
- Asbury
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Richlands
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Richlands is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
- Clintonville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clintonville is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clintonville
- Meadow Bluff
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Meadow Bluff is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Bluff
- Lewisburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Williamsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Blaker Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Blaker Mills is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaker Mills
- Fort Spring
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Fort Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spring
- Whitcomb ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Whitcomb is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitcomb
- Rockland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rockland is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Ronceverte
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Frankford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Dawson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Dawson is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- Grassy Meadows
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Grassy Meadows is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassy Meadows
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alta. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alta.
Newspapers Published in Alta ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alta.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alta, 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 Alta.
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 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 Alta:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Greenbrier County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Monroe County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Raleigh County
- Summers County
- Alleghany County
- Covington City
- Giles 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Alta) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Alta, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |