Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Bloomington. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Bloomington to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bloomington, 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 Bloomington (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 Bloomington. 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 and doctors 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Bloomington is historic, it would have been located within present day Roane 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 Roane County: Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha & Wirt.
Below are the counties that are near Bloomington. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bloomington:
- Roane County (The home county of Bloomington)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Kester ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kester is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kester
- Pigeon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Looneyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Roxalana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Roxalana is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxalana
- Rushville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rushville is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
- Walton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Graux
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Graux is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graux
- Mattie ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mattie is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Woodyard ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodyard is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodyard
- Cicerone
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cicerone is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cicerone
- Zona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Zona is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zona
- Spencer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Triplett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Triplett is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triplett
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Elmira
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Elmira is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Sleith ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sleith is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleith
- Clem
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Clem is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clem
- Strange Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Strange Creek is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strange Creek
- Frametown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Frametown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frametown
- Rockton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rockton is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Wilsie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Wilsie is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsie
- Herold
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- Progress ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Progress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Gassaway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Chapel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chapel is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel
- Canfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Oka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oka is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oka
- Mudfork
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mudfork is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudfork
- Stinson
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stinson is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Beech
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Beech is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Losie ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Losie is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Losie
- Walnut
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Pink
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Pink is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pink
- Gomez ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gomez is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gomez
- Orma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Orma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orma
- Arnoldsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Arnoldsburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnoldsburg
- Rocksdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Rocksdale is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocksdale
- Hur
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hur is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hur
- Russet
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Russet is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russet
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Procious
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Porter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Porter is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Valley Fork
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Dink
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dink is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dink
- Bomont
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bomont is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bomont
- Elkhurst
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Elkhurst is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
- Spread
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Gould
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Lydia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lydia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
- Clay
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hartland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hartland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Ira
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Harrison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Cannelton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cannelton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannelton
- Crescent
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Crescent is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Gauley Bridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Montgomery
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Romont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Romont is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romont
- Smithers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Leander
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leander is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
- Kimberly
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Kimberly is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberly
- Mount Carbon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Carbon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carbon
- Mulvane ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mulvane is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulvane
- Elliot ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elliot is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot
- Gilmer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Shock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Shock is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shock
- Stumptown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stumptown is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stumptown
- Normantown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarville is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- De Kalb
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- De Kalb is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Kalb
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Fletcher
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fletcher is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Kentuck
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kentuck is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Romance
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Romance is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
- Aplin ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Aplin is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aplin
- Statts Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Statts Mills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statts Mills
- Kenna
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Fairplain
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairplain is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplain
- Hereford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hereford is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hereford
- Liverpool
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Liverpool is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
- Meadowdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Meadowdale is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
- Garfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Garfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Ripley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kanawha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Wellford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wellford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellford
- Clendenin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Reamer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Reamer is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reamer
- Apgah ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Apgah is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apgah
- Falling Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Falling Rock is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Rock
- Youngs Bottom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Youngs Bottom is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Bottom
- Three Mile
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Three Mile is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Mile
- Coco
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coco is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coco
- Island Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Island Branch is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Branch
- Elkview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wills is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wills
- Jarretts Ford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jarretts Ford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarretts Ford
- Aarons
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Aarons is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aarons
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Dixie
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Dixie is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Beech Glen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Beech Glen is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Glen
- Zela
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Zela is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zela
- Birch River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Muddlety
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Tipton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tipton is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton
- Albion ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Albion is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Keslers Cross Lanes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Keslers Cross Lanes is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keslers Cross Lanes
- Summersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Morrison ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Morrison is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Liberty
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Sigman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Sigman is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigman
- Paradise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Paradise is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Wirt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Creston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Creston is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Lucile
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lucile is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucile
- Burning Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Burning Springs is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
- Peewee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Peewee is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peewee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bloomington, see our County-by-County Page for Bloomington.
Cemeteries Near Bloomington ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bloomington.
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 Bloomington - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bloomington covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Carper Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Ashley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Amma Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Reed Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- King Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Carper Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Myers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cook Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Laurel Point Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Newton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- J Herbert Smith Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (607 more) ...
- Groves Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Payne Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Armstead Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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 Bloomington in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bloomington.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bloomington, with the one closest to Bloomington listed first.
- Amma
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Amma is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amma
- Pigeon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Newton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Newton is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Kester ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kester is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kester
- Clio
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Clio is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Osbornes Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Osbornes Mills is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osbornes Mills
- Wellford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wellford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellford
- Procious
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Looneyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Roxalana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Roxalana is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxalana
- Valley Fork
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Oka
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oka is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oka
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Clendenin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Linden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Linden is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- Walton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bloomington. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bloomington.
Newspapers Published in Bloomington ...
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 9 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bloomington.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bloomington, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bloomington.
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 Bloomington:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Roane County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Fayette County
- Gilmer County
- Jackson County
- Kanawha County
- Nicholas County
- Putnam County
- Wirt 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 Bloomington, 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> | 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. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bloomington) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |