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 Cotton (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 Cotton. 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 and hospitals 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.
Cotton is located in Roane 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 Roane County: Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha & Wirt.
Below are the counties that are near Cotton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cotton:
- Roane County (The home county of Cotton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Kester ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kester is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kester
- Pigeon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Mattie ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mattie is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Walton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Looneyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rushville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Rushville is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
- Cicerone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cicerone is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cicerone
- Roxalana
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Roxalana is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxalana
- Woodyard ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woodyard is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodyard
- Zona
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Zona is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zona
- Graux
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Graux is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graux
- Flint Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Flint Town is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Town
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Elmira
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Elmira is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Sleith ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sleith is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleith
- Clem
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Clem is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clem
- Strange Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Strange Creek is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strange Creek
- Wilsie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Wilsie is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsie
- Frametown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Frametown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frametown
- Rockton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Rockton is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Herold
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- Progress ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Progress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Oka
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oka is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oka
- Mudfork
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mudfork is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudfork
- Stinson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stinson is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Beech
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beech is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Pink
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Pink is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pink
- Walnut
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Losie ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Losie is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Losie
- Orma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Orma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orma
- Arnoldsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Arnoldsburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnoldsburg
- Gomez ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gomez is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gomez
- Rocksdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rocksdale is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocksdale
- Hur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hur is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hur
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Porter
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Porter is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Procious
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Bomont
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bomont is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bomont
- Valley Fork
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Elkhurst
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Elkhurst is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
- Clay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Dink
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Dink is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dink
- Spread
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Hartland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hartland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Gould
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Lydia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Lydia is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydia
- Harrison
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Cannelton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cannelton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannelton
- Crescent
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Crescent is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Montgomery
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Smithers
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Gauley Bridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mount Carbon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mount Carbon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carbon
- Kimberly
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Kimberly is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberly
- Romont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Romont is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romont
- Falls View
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Falls View is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls View
- Powellton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Powellton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Leander
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leander is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
- Gilmer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Shock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shock is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shock
- Stumptown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stumptown is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stumptown
- Normantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Romance
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Romance is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
- Fletcher
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fletcher is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Kentuck
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kentuck is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Aplin ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Aplin is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aplin
- Kenna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Statts Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Statts Mills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statts Mills
- Fairplain
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Fairplain is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairplain
- Hereford
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Hereford is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hereford
- Liverpool
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Liverpool is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverpool
- Meadowdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Meadowdale is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
- Ripley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Garfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Garfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Kanawha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Wellford
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Wellford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellford
- Clendenin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Reamer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Reamer is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reamer
- Falling Rock
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Falling Rock is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Rock
- Youngs Bottom
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Youngs Bottom is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Bottom
- Apgah ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Apgah is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apgah
- Three Mile
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Three Mile is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Mile
- Elkview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wills is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wills
- Coco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Coco is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coco
- Aarons
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Aarons is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aarons
- Island Branch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Island Branch is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Branch
- Lincoln County
- Alum Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Dixie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dixie is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Beech Glen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Beech Glen is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Glen
- Tipton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Tipton is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton
- Albion ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Albion is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Zela
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Zela is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zela
- Muddlety
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Keslers Cross Lanes
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Keslers Cross Lanes is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keslers Cross Lanes
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Liberty
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Sigman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sigman is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigman
- Paradise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Paradise is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Poca
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Raymond City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Raymond City is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond City
- Bancroft
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bancroft is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Population from the 2020 Census: 596 people
- Morgans Landing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Morgans Landing is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Landing
- Red House
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Winfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wirt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Lucile
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lucile is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucile
- Creston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Creston is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Peewee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Peewee is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peewee
- Burning Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Burning Springs is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cotton, see our County-by-County Page for Cotton.
Cemeteries Near Cotton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cotton.
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 Cotton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cotton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Casey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Reynolds Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Taylor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Canterbury Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Staats Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Keffer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Gandee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jackson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Parker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Taylor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- McCroskey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Continue List (623 more) ...
- Seabolt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cummings Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- White Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
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 Cotton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cotton.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cotton, with the one closest to Cotton listed first.
- Wellford
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Wellford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellford
- Osbornes Mills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Osbornes Mills is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osbornes Mills
- Clendenin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Clio
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Clio is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Amma
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Amma is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amma
- Kester ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Kester is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kester
- Walton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pigeon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Mattie ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mattie is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Kettle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kettle is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle
- Apgah ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Apgah is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apgah
- Procious
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Looneyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Newton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Newton is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Ryan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ryan is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cotton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cotton.
Newspapers Published in Cotton ...
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 4 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cotton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cotton, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cotton.
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 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 Cotton:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Roane County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Calhoun County
- Clay County
- Fayette County
- Gilmer County
- Jackson County
- Kanawha County
- Lincoln County
- Nicholas County
- Putnam County
- Wirt 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 Cotton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Cotton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |