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 Bruce (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 Bruce. 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 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.
Bruce is located in Nicholas 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 Nicholas County: Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Bruce. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bruce:
- Nicholas County (The home county of Bruce)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Snow Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Snow Hill is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Odell Town
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Odell Town is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell Town
- Odell Town has also been known as:
- Odell
- Runa
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Runa is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runa
- Tolbert
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Tolbert is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolbert
- Nettie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Carl
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carl is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Peaser Junction ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Peaser Junction is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaser Junction
- Donald
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Morrison ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Morrison is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Keslers Cross Lanes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keslers Cross Lanes is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keslers Cross Lanes
- Summersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Saxman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Herold
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Strange Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Strange Creek is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strange Creek
- Canfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Little Birch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Little Birch is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Birch
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Widen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Widen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
- Wattsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Wattsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Swandale
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Swandale is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swandale
- Hartland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hartland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Harrison
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Clay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Spread
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Elkhurst
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elkhurst is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
- Ira
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Gould
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Clifty
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clifty is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Elliot ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Elliot is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot
- Hilton Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hilton Village is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Lookout
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leander
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Leander is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
- Maywood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Maywood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Clifftop
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mulvane ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Mulvane is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulvane
- Bellwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bellwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Keeneys Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Keeneys Creek is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneys Creek
- Nuttalburg ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nuttalburg is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nuttalburg
- Grayden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Grayden is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayden
- Greenbrier County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Brushy Junction ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brushy Junction is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Junction
- Lile
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lile is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lile
- Crichton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Crichton is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crichton
- Quinwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Quinwood is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Orient Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Orient Hill is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient Hill
- Charmco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hines
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hines is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hines
- McRoss
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- McRoss is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McRoss
- Rainelle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Rupert
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Crawley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kieffer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kieffer is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kieffer
- Pocahontas County
- Hillsboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Raleigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Royal ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Royal is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal
- Abraham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Abraham is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abraham
- Terry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Terry is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terry
- Grandview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Piney View
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Piney View is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney View
- Bradley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bradley is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Summers County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- New Richmond ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- New Richmond is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Richmond
- Sandstone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Camden-on-Gauley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Camden-on-Gauley is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden-on-Gauley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Welch Glade
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Cowen
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Upperglade
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Halo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Erbacon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Excelsior
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Addison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Ralph
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bruce, see our County-by-County Page for Bruce.
Cemeteries Near Bruce ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bruce.
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 Bruce - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bruce covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Spruce Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Buckhorn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Dixon Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Hickory Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Penile Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gilgal Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fowlers Knob Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Gilead Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fields Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (165 more) ...
- Fairview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Olive Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Downtain Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Bruce in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bruce.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bruce, with the one closest to Bruce listed first.
- Snow Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Snow Hill is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Fowler Knob
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fowler Knob is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fowler Knob
- Hominy Falls
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hominy Falls is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hominy Falls
- Leivasy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Leivasy is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leivasy
- Ophelia ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ophelia is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophelia
- Mount Nebo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pool
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pool is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pool
- Nutterville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nutterville is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutterville
- Mount Lookout
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Lookout is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lookout
- Russellville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Russellville is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Lile
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lile is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lile
- Keslers Cross Lanes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keslers Cross Lanes is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keslers Cross Lanes
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Clifty
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clifty is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifty
- Duo
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Duo is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duo
- Persinger
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Persinger is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persinger
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bruce. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bruce.
Newspapers Published in Bruce ...
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 10 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bruce.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bruce, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bruce.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Bruce:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Nicholas County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Clay County
- Fayette County
- Greenbrier County
- Pocahontas County
- Raleigh County
- Summers 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> | 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 Bruce, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bruce) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |