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 Blue Rock (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 Blue Rock. 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.
Blue Rock is located in Randolph 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 Randolph County: Barbour, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Tucker, Upshur & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Blue Rock. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blue Rock:
- Randolph County (The home county of Blue Rock)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Huff ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Lee Bell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
- Huttonsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mill Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Helvetia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cassity
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Elkwater
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elkwater is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
- Florence ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Pickens
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Monterville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Valley Head
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Blue Spring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Junior
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Junior is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Audra
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Audra is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Audra
- Belington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wilmoth ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
- Clements ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Clements is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
- Valley Bend
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Calhoun
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Calhoun is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Huffman ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Huffman is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Tygart Junction
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tygart Junction is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tygart Junction
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Elk City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elk City is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Vannoys Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Vannoys Mill is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoys Mill
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Milroy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Falls Mill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
- Knawl
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Knawl is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knawl
- Bulltown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Corley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Napier
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Palmer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Palmer is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Orlando
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Orlando is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Heaters
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Flatwoods
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Rollyson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Rollyson is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollyson
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Duffy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Crawford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Garton Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Aberdeen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Aberdeen is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
- Alkires Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Berlin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Berlin is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Cox Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cox Town is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
- Weston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Village
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Wildell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Wildell is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildell
- Durbin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Frank
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Frank is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
- Slaty Fork
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Thornwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Thornwood is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornwood
- Arbovale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cass
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Green Bank
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sitlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
- Tucker County
- Pleasant Run
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Run is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Alexander
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Queens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Queens is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
- Alton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Beans Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Tenmile
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tenmile is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Goshen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Sand Run
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sand Run is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Run
- Tallmansville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Wilsontown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Kanawha Head
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Adrian
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Cleveland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hacker Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Replete
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Big Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Orndoff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Ralph
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Addison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Excelsior
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Erbacon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Halo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blue Rock, see our County-by-County Page for Blue Rock.
Cemeteries Near Blue Rock ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blue Rock.
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 Blue Rock - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blue Rock covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hicks Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Maher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Old Brick Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brooks Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Simmons Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Helvetia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pickens Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Crouch Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Ross Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (172 more) ...
- Long Run Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lanham Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alton Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
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>
While we didn't find Blue Rock in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blue Rock.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blue Rock, with the one closest to Blue Rock listed first.
- Hemlock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hemlock is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Palace Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Palace Valley is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palace Valley
- Lee Bell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
- Huff ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Helvetia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Huttonsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Elkwater
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elkwater is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
- Cassity
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Pickens
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Florence ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Alexander
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Selbyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Selbyville is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selbyville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Queens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Queens is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
- Alton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Mayton ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mayton is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blue Rock. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blue Rock.
Newspapers Published in Blue Rock ...
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 13 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blue Rock.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blue Rock, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blue Rock.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Blue Rock:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Braxton County
- Lewis County
- Pocahontas County
- Tucker County
- Upshur County
- Webster 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 Blue Rock, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 from Point A (ie- Blue Rock) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |