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Home >> State of West Virginia >> Kanawha County >> Coal Fork >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Coal Fork (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 Coal Fork. 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.

Name Variations for Coal Fork ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Coal Fork: Coal Frk.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 and hospitals 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.

Coal Fork is located in Kanawha 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 Kanawha County: Boone, Clay, Fayette, Jackson, Lincoln, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh & Roane.

Below are the counties that are near Coal Fork. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Coal Fork:

  • Kanawha County     (The home county of Coal Fork)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Malden
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Kanawha City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Kanawha City is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha City
    • Airport Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Airport Village is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airport Village
      • Airport Village has also been known as:
      • Airport
    • Dupont City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Dupont City is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dupont City
    • Belle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Belle is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,108 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Belle <1>
    • Marmet
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • South Ruffner
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • South Ruffner is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ruffner
    • Big Chimney
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Big Chimney is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Chimney
    • Pinch
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Pinch is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinch
    • Chesapeake
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Chesapeake is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesapeake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,393 people
    • Witcher
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Witcher is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witcher
    • Charleston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Cedar Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Comfort
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Bloomingrose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bloomingrose is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingrose
    • Dartmont
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Dartmont is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dartmont
    • Rumble
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Rumble is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumble
    • Ashford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Brushton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Brushton is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushton
    • Eden
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Eden is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
    • Emmons
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Emmons is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmons
    • Grippe
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Grippe is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grippe
    • Racine
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Racine is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
    • Sharlow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sharlow is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharlow
    • Joes Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Joes Creek is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joes Creek
    • Johns
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Johns is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns
  • Cabell County
    • Culloden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Culloden is located in Cabell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Culloden
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Bomont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Bomont is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bomont
    • Porter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Porter is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
    • Procious
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Procious is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
    • Elkhurst
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Elkhurst is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
    • Hartland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Hartland is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
    • Clay
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Valley Fork
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Valley Fork is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
    • Spread
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Spread is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
    • Gould
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gould is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
    • Dink
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Dink is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dink
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Cannelton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cannelton is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannelton
    • Montgomery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Crescent
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Crescent is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
    • Smithers
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Kimberly
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Kimberly is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberly
    • Mount Carbon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Mount Carbon is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carbon
    • Powellton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Powellton is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
    • Elkridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Elkridge is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkridge
    • Falls View
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Falls View is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls View
    • Gauley Bridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • McDunn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • McDunn is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDunn
    • Romont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Romont is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romont
    • Cotton Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cotton Hill is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Hill
  • Jackson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Romance
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Romance is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
    • Fletcher
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Fletcher is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
    • Kentuck
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Kentuck is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
    • Kenna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Aplin ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Aplin is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aplin
    • Statts Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Statts Mills is located in Jackson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statts Mills
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Alum Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Priestley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Priestley is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priestley
    • Sod
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Sod is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sod
    • Garretts Bend
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Garretts Bend is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garretts Bend
    • Tango
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Tango is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tango
    • East ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • East is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East
    • Alkol
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Alkol is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkol
    • Yawkey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Yawkey is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yawkey
    • Sweetland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Sweetland is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
    • Palermo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Palermo is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
  • Nicholas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Dixie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Dixie is located in Nicholas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
    • Beech Glen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Beech Glen is located in Nicholas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Glen
    • Albion ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Albion is located in Nicholas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
    • Tipton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Tipton is located in Nicholas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton
  • Putnam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Poca
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Raymond City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Raymond City is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond City
    • Morgans Landing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgans Landing is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Landing
    • Bancroft
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bancroft is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 596 people
    • Liberty
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Liberty is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
    • Sigman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sigman is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigman
    • Scott Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Scott Village is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott Village
    • Paradise
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Paradise is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
    • Teays Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Teays Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Teays Village is located in Putnam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teays Village
    • Red House
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Winfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Eleanor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Raleigh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Dorothy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Dorothy is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy
    • Packsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Packsville is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packsville
    • Montcoal
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Montcoal is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montcoal
    • Stickney
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Stickney is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickney
  • Roane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.
    • Cicerone
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Cicerone is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cicerone
    • Mattie ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Mattie is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
    • Pigeon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Pigeon is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
    • Walton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Kester ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Kester is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kester
    • Woodyard ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Woodyard is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodyard
    • Looneyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rushville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Rushville is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
    • Zona
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Zona is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zona
    • Flint Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Flint Town is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Town
    • Roxalana
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Roxalana is located in Roane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxalana

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Coal Fork, see our County-by-County Page for Coal Fork.

Cemeteries Near Coal Fork ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Coal Fork.

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 Coal Fork - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Coal Fork covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.

  • Younger Branch Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Patterson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hunter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Cline Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Valley Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Fisher Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Prouse Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Lacy Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacy Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Lacy Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the east of Charleston.
    • The Lacy Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Lacy Family Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2547681 <3>
  • Hunter Cemetery 2
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lucas Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Hanson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (720 more) ...
    • Hunt - Donnally Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Martin Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Westfall Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)

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 Coal Fork in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Coal Fork.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Coal Fork, with the one closest to Coal Fork listed first.

  • Malden
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Kanawha City
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Kanawha City is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha City
  • South Ruffner
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • South Ruffner is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ruffner
  • Charleston
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Winifrede Junction
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Winifrede Junction is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winifrede Junction
  • Cedar Grove
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Grove is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
  • Winifrede
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Winifrede is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winifrede
  • Mink ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Mink is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mink
  • Shrewsbury
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Shrewsbury is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shrewsbury
  • Coalburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Coalburg is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalburg
  • East Bank
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • East Bank is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bank
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 857 people
  • Coco
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Coco is located in Kanawha County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coco
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Jarrett
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Jarrett is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
    • Dry Branch
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Dry Branch is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Branch
    • Crown Hill
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Crown Hill is located in Kanawha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown Hill

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Coal Fork. See our List of 1890's Communities around Coal Fork.

Newspapers Published in Coal Fork ...

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 103 newspapers that have been published in the area around Coal Fork.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Coal Fork, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Coal Fork.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Coal Fork:

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>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- Coal Fork) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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>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 Coal Fork, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.