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 Blair (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 Blair. 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.
Blair is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Washington (MD), Clarke (VA), Loudoun (VA) & Berkeley.
Below are the counties that are near Blair. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blair:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Blair)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Bolivar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bolivar is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,018 people
- Harpers Ferry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bloomery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomery is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomery
- Charles Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ranson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ranson is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ranson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,360 people
- Ranson has also been known as:
- Corporation of Ranson
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ranson <1>
- Lower Town
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lower Town is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Town
- Bardane
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bardane is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bardane
- Jefferson Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Village
- Kabletown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kabletown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kabletown
- Shepherdstown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Summit Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Summit Point is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Point
- Middleway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Berkeley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Baker Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Baker Heights is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Heights
- Swan Pond
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Swan Pond is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Pond
- Scrabble
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Scrabble is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
- Darkesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Darkesville is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darkesville
- Inwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Martinsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bunker Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ridgeway
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Arden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Arden is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Bedington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bedington is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedington
- Gerrardstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Falling Waters
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Hampshire County
- Good
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Good is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Holton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Holton is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holton
- Cherry Run
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cherry Run is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Run
- Oakland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oakland is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Stotlers Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stotlers Crossroads is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotlers Crossroads
- Sleepy Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sleepy Creek is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleepy Creek
- Frederick County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Knoxville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Brunswick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rosemont
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Rosemont is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosemont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 332 people
- Petersville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Petersville is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersville
- Boss Arnold Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Boss Arnold Village is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boss Arnold Village
- Olive
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Olive is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive
- Burkittsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lander
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lander is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lander
- Jefferson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Point-of-Rocks
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Potomac Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Potomac Village is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potomac Village
- Adamstown Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Adamstown Village is located in Frederick County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamstown Village
- Montgomery County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Monocacy ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Monocacy is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monocacy
- Martinsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Martinsburg is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
- Dickerson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Beallsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Edwards Ferry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Edwards Ferry is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards Ferry
- Barnesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Barnesville is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 178 people
- Poolesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hyattstown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hyattstown is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyattstown
- Blocktown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Blocktown is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blocktown
- Boyds
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Burdette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Burdette is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
- Clarksburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Washington County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Sandy Hook
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Hook is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
- Antietam
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Antietam is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antietam
- Brownsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brownsville is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Antietam Station
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Antietam Station is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antietam Station
- Gapland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sharpsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rohrersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Trego
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Trego is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trego
- Eakles Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Eakles Mills is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eakles Mills
- Keedysville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Fairplay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Boonsboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clarke County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Gaylord
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gaylord is located in Clarke County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaylord
- Arcadia Farm
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Arcadia Farm is located in Clarke County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia Farm
- Wadesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Wadesville is located in Clarke County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadesville
- Berryville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Frogtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Frogtown is located in Clarke County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogtown
- Boyce
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Berrys
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Berrys is located in Clarke County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrys
- Millwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Waterloo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Waterloo is located in Clarke County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- White Post
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Fauquier County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Kerfoot
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kerfoot is located in Fauquier County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerfoot
- Zulla
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zulla is located in Fauquier County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zulla
- Halfway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Halfway is located in Fauquier County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Landmark
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Landmark is located in Fauquier County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landmark
- Delaplane
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Markham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Marshall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- The Plains
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Petersburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Petersburg is located in Fauquier County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg
- Belvoir ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Belvoir is located in Fauquier County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvoir
- Frederick County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Rest
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Rest is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rest
- Grimes
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Grimes is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimes
- Welltown
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Welltown is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welltown
- White Hall
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Cedar Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Cedar Grove is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Albin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Albin is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albin
- Armel
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Armel is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armel
- Echo Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Echo Village is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo Village
- Chambersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Chambersville is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersville
- Shockeysville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Shockeysville is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shockeysville
- Siler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Siler is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siler
- Day - Mar Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Day - Mar Village is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day - Mar Village
- Loudoun County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Georges Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Georges Mill is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georges Mill
- Hillsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bolington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bolington is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolington
- Lovettsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Morrisonville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morrisonville is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisonville
- Wheatland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wheatland is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Purcellville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Round Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Silcott Spring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Silcott Spring is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silcott Spring
- Hamilton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lucketts
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lucketts is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucketts
- White Pump
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- White Pump is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pump
- Prince William County (VA)
- Waterfall Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Waterfall Village is located in Prince William County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterfall Village
- Warren County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Milldale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Milldale is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milldale
- Ashby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ashby is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Cedarville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cedarville is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Winchester City (VA)
- Winchester
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blair, see our County-by-County Page for Blair.
Cemeteries Near Blair ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blair.
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 Blair - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blair covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Chestnut Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Harper Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bolivar Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Edge Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fairview Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the southwest of Charles Town.
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Uvilla Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Elk Branch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (358 more) ...
- St. James Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Johnsontown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Kabletown Churchyard 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.<4>
While we didn't find Blair in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blair.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blair, with the one closest to Blair listed first.
- Millville
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Millville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Halltown
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Halltown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halltown
- Harpers Ferry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Charles Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Duffields
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Duffields is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffields
- Neersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Neersville is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neersville
- Bakerton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bakerton is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerton
- Mechanicsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mechanicsville is located in Loudoun County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsville
- Sandy Hook
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Hook is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
- Shenandoah Junction
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Uvilla
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Uvilla is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uvilla
- Wheatland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wheatland is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatland
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Kabletown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kabletown is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kabletown
- Weverton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Weverton is located in Washington County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weverton
- Aldridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Aldridge is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldridge
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blair. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blair.
Newspapers Published in Blair ...
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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blair.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blair, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blair.
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 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 Blair:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berkeley County
- Hampshire County
- Morgan County
- Frederick County
- Montgomery County
- Washington County
- Clarke County
- Fauquier County
- Frederick County
- Loudoun County
- Prince William County
- Warren County
- Winchester City
- 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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Blair) 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 Blair, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |