Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Blake. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Blake to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Blake, please Contact Us.
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 Blake (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 Blake. 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 hospitals and 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Blake is historic, it would have been located within present day Mercer 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 Mercer County: Bland (VA), Giles (VA), Tazewell (VA), McDowell, Raleigh, Summers & Wyoming.
Below are the counties that are near Blake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blake:
- Mercer County (The home county of Blake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- East River ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- East River is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- El Centro ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- El Centro is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Centro
- Princeton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Edison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Edison is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
- Oak Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Johnston Town
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Johnston Town is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnston Town
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Oakvale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Athens
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bluefield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Littlesburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Littlesburg is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlesburg
- Elgood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elgood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
- Lashmeet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lashmeet is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lashmeet
- Logan County
- Rich Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rich Creek is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Elkhorn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Elkhorn is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
- Anawalt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Anawalt is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anawalt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Kyle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Kyle is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyle
- Northfork
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Keystone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Thorpe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Thorpe is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorpe
- Big Four
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Big Four is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Four
- Kimball
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gary
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gary is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
- Population from the 2020 Census: 759 people
- Bishop
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bishop is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Welch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Newhall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Newhall is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Peterstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
- Assurance
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Wikel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
- Wayside
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wayside is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Raleigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Rhodell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodell is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Eastgulf
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Eastgulf is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastgulf
- Princewick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Princewick is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princewick
- Helen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Helen is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helen
- Coal City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Coal City is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Shady Spring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Ury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ury is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ury
- Sullivan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Sullivan is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Stotesbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Stotesbury is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotesbury
- Pemberton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pemberton is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pemberton
- Sophia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tilden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tilden is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
- Daniels
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Summers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
- Pipestem
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- True
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- True is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
- Forest Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Nimitz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Nimitz is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimitz
- Packs Ferry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Packs Ferry is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
- Buck
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Buck is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck
- Jumping Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Jumping Branch is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumping Branch
- Bellepoint
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bellepoint is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellepoint
- Brooklin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Brooklin is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklin
- Hinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bargers Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bargers Springs is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargers Springs
- Hilldale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hilldale is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
- Wyoming County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Bud
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bud is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bud
- Mullens
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bland County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Round Bottom
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Round Bottom is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Rocky Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Hicksville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Bastian
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mechanicsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Bland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Giles County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Shumate
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Shumate is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Glen Lyn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glen Lyn is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Lurich
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lurich is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
- Narrows
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Rich Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Thessalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Bluff City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Pearisburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Poplar Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Pembroke
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Eggleston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
- Mountain Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mountain Lake is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake
- Pulaski County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Hilton Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Pulaski
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Parrott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Dublin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Newbern
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Draper
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cowan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Fairlawn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Mack Creek Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Radford City (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- New Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Town is located in Radford City (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Radford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Mill Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Radford Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Simpkins Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Tazewell County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Bluefield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
- Yards
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Yards is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
- Pocahontas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
- Saint Clair
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Boissevain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Boissevain is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boissevain
- Shawver Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Shawver Mill is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawver Mill
- Springville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Springville is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Little Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Abbs Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Abbs Valley is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley
- Wittens Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wittens Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittens Mills
- Five Oaks
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Five Oaks is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Oaks
- Adria
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Adria is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adria
- Wythe County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Max Meadows
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kent
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Wythe County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Wytheville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fort Chiswell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
- Locust Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Locust Hill is located in Wythe County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Siloam
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Siloam is located in Wythe County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Crockett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Rural Retreat
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blake, see our County-by-County Page for Blake.
Cemeteries Near Blake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blake.
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 Blake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- White Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Shumate Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Cooper Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Tynes & Ferguson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Hop Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Walters Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Wells Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mills Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Carper Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sword Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Continue List (379 more) ...
- Comfort Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Harvey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Shields Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
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.
While we didn't find Blake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blake.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blake, with the one closest to Blake listed first.
- Ingleside
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Ingleside is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- East River ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- East River is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- Rocky Gap
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Princeton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ada
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ada is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- New Hope
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- New Hope is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Byron
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Byron is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
- Oakvale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Bluefield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hicksville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Clear Fork
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clear Fork is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Fork
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Kimberling
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Kimberling is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberling
- Spanishburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Holly Brook
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Holly Brook is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Brook
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blake.
Newspapers Published in Blake ...
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 Blake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blake, 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 Blake.
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 helpful 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 Blake:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Mercer County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Monroe County
- Raleigh County
- Summers County
- Wyoming County
- Bland County
- Giles County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Tazewell County
- Wythe County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Blake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Blake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |