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 Columbia (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 Columbia. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Columbia is located in Fayette 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 Fayette County: Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas, Raleigh & Summers.
Below are the counties that are near Columbia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Columbia:
- Fayette County (The home county of Columbia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Kimberly
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Kimberly is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberly
- Mount Carbon
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mount Carbon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carbon
- Powellton
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Powellton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Falls View
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Falls View is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls View
- Crescent
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Crescent is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Smithers
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Elkridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Elkridge is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkridge
- Cannelton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cannelton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannelton
- Montgomery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- McDunn
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- McDunn is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDunn
- Gauley Bridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beckwith
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Joes Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Joes Creek is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joes Creek
- Orgas
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Orgas is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orgas
- Elk Run Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Elk Run Junction is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Run Junction
- Janie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Janie is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janie
- Former name for Janie:
- Mordue
- Sylvester
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whitesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whitesville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 416 people
- Former names for Whitesville:
- Jarrods Valley
- Pritchard City
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Whitesville <1>
- Coopertown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Coopertown is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopertown
- Keith
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Keith is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keith
- Comfort
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fosterville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fosterville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
- Kirbyton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Kirbyton is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirbyton
- Seth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Bomont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bomont is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bomont
- Hartland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hartland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Elkhurst
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Elkhurst is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
- Porter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Porter is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Procious
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Clay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spread
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Valley Fork
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Kanawha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Handley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Handley is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Handley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 309 people
- Hollygrove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hollygrove is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollygrove
- Hollygrove has also been known as:
- Hollygrove Station
- Hudnall
- Hugheston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hugheston is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hugheston
- Pratt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pratt is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
- Eskdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Eskdale is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskdale
- Glasgow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Carbon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Carbon is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon
- Ronda
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ronda is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ronda
- Cedar Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
- Dry Branch
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dry Branch is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Branch
- East Bank
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- East Bank is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bank
- Population from the 2020 Census: 857 people
- Acme
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Acme is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Alum Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Priestley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Priestley is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priestley
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Dixie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dixie is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Beech Glen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beech Glen is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Glen
- Albion ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Albion is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Tipton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Tipton is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton
- Keslers Cross Lanes
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Keslers Cross Lanes is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keslers Cross Lanes
- Zela
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Zela is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zela
- Morrison ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Morrison is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Runa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Runa is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runa
- Summersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Snow Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Snow Hill is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Raleigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Dorothy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dorothy is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy
- Packsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Packsville is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packsville
- Bradley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bradley is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Montcoal
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Montcoal is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montcoal
- Stickney
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Stickney is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickney
- Arnett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Prosperity
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Prosperity is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prosperity
- Rock Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rock Creek is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Creek
- Sweeneyburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Sweeneyburg is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweeneyburg
- Naoma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Naoma is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naoma
- Piney View
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Piney View is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney View
- Pineknob
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pineknob is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineknob
- Roane County
- Pigeon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Wyoming County
- Kopperston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kopperston is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kopperston
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Columbia, see our County-by-County Page for Columbia.
Cemeteries Near Columbia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Columbia.
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 Columbia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Columbia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Craig Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Guthrie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Blake Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Robson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sycamore Branch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Page Tabernackle Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Johnson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Goodwin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Abbott - Huddleston Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Montgomery Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Memorial Park
- The Montgomery Memorial Park has also been known as:
- Montgomery Memorial Cemetery
- Montgomery Memorial Gardens
- Meadow Haven Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (521 more) ...
- Sight Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Perry Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
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 Columbia in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Columbia.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Columbia, with the one closest to Columbia listed first.
- Powellton
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Powellton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Mount Carbon
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mount Carbon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carbon
- Deep Water
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Deep Water is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep Water
- Eagle
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Eagle is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle
- Crescent
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Crescent is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Montgomery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Kanawha Falls
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Kanawha Falls is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Falls
- Handley
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Handley is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Handley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 309 people
- Kincaid
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Kincaid is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kincaid
- Gauley Bridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gauley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Gauley is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gauley
- Crown Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Crown Hill is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown Hill
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Beckwith
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Cotton Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Cotton Hill is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Hill
- Acme
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Acme is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Columbia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Columbia.
Newspapers Published in Columbia ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Columbia.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Columbia, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Columbia.
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 Columbia:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Fayette County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Clay County
- Kanawha County
- Lincoln County
- Nicholas County
- Raleigh County
- Roane County
- Wyoming 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 Columbia, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Columbia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |