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 Copley (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 Copley. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Copley is located in Lewis 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 Lewis County: Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Upshur & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Copley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Copley:
- Lewis County (The home county of Copley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Alum Bridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Alum Bridge is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Bridge
- Vadis
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Vadis is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vadis
- Hurst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hurst is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurst
- Camden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Camden is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden
- Alkires Mills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Cox Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cox Town is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
- Weston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Smith Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Village
- Valley Chapel
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Garton Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Westfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Westfield is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Crawford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Lightburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lightburn is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightburn
- Barbour County
- Pepper
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pepper is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepper
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Burnsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Orlando
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Orlando is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Arnett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Arnett is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnett
- Knawl
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Knawl is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knawl
- Napier
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Rollyson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Rollyson is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollyson
- Bulltown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Exchange
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Falls Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
- Heaters
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Corley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Lloydsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Lloydsville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloydsville
- Chapel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Chapel is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Russet
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Russet is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russet
- Staten
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Staten is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staten
- Grantsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Freed
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Freed is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freed
- Gomez ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gomez is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gomez
- Big Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Big Bend is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
- Arnoldsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arnoldsburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnoldsburg
- Orma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Orma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orma
- Hur
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Hur is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hur
- Losie ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Losie is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Losie
- Walnut
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Clay County
- Lydia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lydia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
- Doddridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Saint Clara
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Saint Clara is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clara
- Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Grove is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Coldwater
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Coldwater is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Avon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Avon is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Big Isaac
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Big Isaac is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Isaac
- Market
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Market is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Market
- Miletus
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Miletus is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miletus
- New Milton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Smithburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Smithburg is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
- Avondale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Avondale is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- West Union
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Doak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Doak is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doak
- Duckworth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Duckworth is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duckworth
- Gilmer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Baldwin
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Baldwin is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Sand Fork
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Fork is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Fork
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Stouts Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Troy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Troy is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Truebada
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Truebada is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truebada
- Conings
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Conings is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conings
- Alice
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Alice is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alice
- Glenville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Cedarville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cedarville is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Newberne
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Newberne is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newberne
- De Kalb
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- De Kalb is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Kalb
- Normantown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stumptown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Stumptown is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stumptown
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- McWhorter
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- McWhorter is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWhorter
- Tichenal
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tichenal is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tichenal
- Lost Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lost Creek is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
- West Milford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- West Milford is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 609 people
- Bristol
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Salem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Reynoldsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Reynoldsville is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reynoldsville
- Craigmoor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Craigmoor is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigmoor
- O'Neill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- O'Neill is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neill
- Quiet Dell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Quiet Dell is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quiet Dell
- Clarksburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Katy Lick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Katy Lick is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katy Lick
- Nutter Fort
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Nutter Fort is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutter Fort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,501 people
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Midvale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Midvale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Helvetia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ritchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Auburn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Auburn is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
- Lawford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lawford is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawford
- Burnt House
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Burnt House is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt House
- Berea
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Berea is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Slab
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Slab is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab
- Pullman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pullman is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Toll Gate
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Toll Gate is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toll Gate
- Smithville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Smithville is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithville
- Hannahdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hannahdale is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannahdale
- Harrisville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pennsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stanley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stanley is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Cantwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cantwell is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cantwell
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Frenchton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Abbott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Abbott is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Rock Cave
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Hoover Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hoover Town is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
- Wilsontown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Adrian
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Kanawha Head
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Buckhannon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sago
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sago is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sago
- Reger
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Reger is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reger
- Beans Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Alton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Goshen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Cleveland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Replete
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Hacker Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Big Run
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Copley, see our County-by-County Page for Copley.
Cemeteries Near Copley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Copley.
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 Copley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Copley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Boilon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Old Field Fork Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Keith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Messenger Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rogers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Bernard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Conrad Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- McHenry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dyer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Canfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tumbling Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Woofter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (432 more) ...
- Rock Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Snyder Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 Copley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Copley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Copley, with the one closest to Copley listed first.
- Bealls Mills
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bealls Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bealls Mills
- Aspinall
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Aspinall is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspinall
- Ellis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ellis is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Alum Bridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Alum Bridge is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Bridge
- Vadis
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Vadis is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vadis
- Sand Fork
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Fork is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Fork
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Stouts Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Truebada
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Truebada is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truebada
- Hyers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hyers is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyers
- Burnsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Camden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Camden is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden
- Troy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Troy is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Arnold
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Arnold is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Roanoke
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jacksonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jacksonville is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Copley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Copley.
Newspapers Published in Copley ...
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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Copley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Copley, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Copley.
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 Copley:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Lewis County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Braxton County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Doddridge County
- Gilmer County
- Harrison County
- Randolph County
- Ritchie 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> | 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 Copley, 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 from Point A (ie- Copley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |