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 Alvon (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 Alvon. 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.
Alvon 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 Alvon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alvon:
- Greenbrier County (The home county of Alvon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Wild Meadow
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wild Meadow is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Meadow
- Neola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Neola is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neola
- Anthony
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Anthony is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony
- Spring Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Creek is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Brink ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brink is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brink
- White Sulphur Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Falling Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Frankford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Tuckahoe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tuckahoe is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
- Clendenenville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clendenenville is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clendenenville
- Caldwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Unus
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Unus is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unus
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Hollywood
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hollywood is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Hillsdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Wolfcreek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wolfcreek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfcreek
- Union
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Peaser Junction ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Peaser Junction is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaser Junction
- Richwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Carl
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Carl is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Saxman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Hillsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Watoga ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Watoga is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
- Buckeye
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Huntersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Marlinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Onoto
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
- Thorny Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Edray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Summers County
- Riffe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Riffe is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riffe
- Alleghany County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Moss Run
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Moss Run is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Low Moor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rich Patch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Selma
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Selma is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Clifton Forge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Iron Gate
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Griffith
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Griffith is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Bath County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Greenwood ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Greenwood is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Carloover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Carloover is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
- Healing Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Cowardin ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cowardin is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
- Mountain Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Grove is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Mitchelltown
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mitchelltown is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
- Warm Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bath Alum
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Botetourt County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Glen Wilton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
- Oriskany
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Strom
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Strom is located in Botetourt County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strom
- Haden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Haden is located in Botetourt County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
- Gala
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Gala is located in Botetourt County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
- Covington City (VA)
- Covington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Craig County (VA)
- New Castle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alvon, see our County-by-County Page for Alvon.
Cemeteries Near Alvon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alvon.
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 Alvon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alvon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Hoke Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Watts Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Enon Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mountain Gate Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Morning Side Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lewis Tunnel Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Helmintoller Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Smith Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Rosewood Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Greenbrier Memorial Gardens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (80 more) ...
- Kellison Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sunset Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Old Stone Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Alvon had a population of 109 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alvon, with the one closest to Alvon listed first.
- Sue
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sue is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sue
- Mapledale
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mapledale is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapledale
- White Sulphur Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Backbone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Backbone is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Backbone
- Callaghan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Callaghan is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaghan
- Falling Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Frankford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Tuckahoe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tuckahoe is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
- Alleghany
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Alleghany is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany
- Moss Run
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Moss Run is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Renicks Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Renicks Valley is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renicks Valley
- Locust
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Locust is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Caldwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jacox
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Jacox is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacox
- Richlands
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Richlands is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alvon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alvon.
Newspapers Published in Alvon ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alvon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alvon, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alvon.
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 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 Alvon:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Greenbrier County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Monroe County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Summers County
- Alleghany County
- Bath County
- Botetourt County
- Covington City
- Craig 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 Alvon, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Alvon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |