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 Dakota (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 Dakota. 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 hospitals and 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.
Dakota is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Harrison, Monongalia, Taylor & Wetzel.
Below are the counties that are near Dakota. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dakota:
- Marion County (The home county of Dakota)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Rivesville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Barrackville
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Barrackville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrackville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,270 people
- Pleasant View
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pleasant View is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Fairmont
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Palatine
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Palatine is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palatine
- Garden Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Garden Village is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Mount Harmony
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Harmony is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Harmony
- Grant Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Grant Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Population from the 2020 Census: 590 people
- Watson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Watson is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Canton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Canton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Hoodsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hoodsville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodsville
- Katy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Katy is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katy
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Pleasant Creek ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Creek is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Creek
- Adaland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Adaland is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaland
- Berryburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Berryburg is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryburg
- Clemtown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Clemtown is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemtown
- Arden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Arden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Pepper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pepper is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepper
- Meriden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Meriden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Kasson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Kasson is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Elk City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Elk City is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Philippi
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wellington Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Wellington Heights is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington Heights
- Valley Furnace
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Furnace is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Furnace
- Doddridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Doak
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Doak is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doak
- Roberts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Roberts is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roberts
- Big Isaac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Big Isaac is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Isaac
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Enterprise
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Saltwell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saltwell is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltwell
- Shinnston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wyatt
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wyatt is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Haywood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Haywood is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood
- Lumberport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lumberport is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumberport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
- Meadowbrook
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Meadowbrook is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Bridgeport
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Spelter
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Spelter is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spelter
- Jimtown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jimtown is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Gore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gore is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gore
- Rosebud
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rosebud is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Bannen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bannen is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannen
- Kausooth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kausooth is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kausooth
- Monongalia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Smithtown
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Smithtown is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithtown
- Arnettsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Arnettsville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnettsville
- Georgetown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Hagans
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hagans is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagans
- Little Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Sandy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sandy is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Laurel Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel Point is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Point
- Cassville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cassville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassville
- Granville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Granville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,156 people
- Morgantown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Osage
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Osage is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Star City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Star City is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
- Preston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Gladesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Gladesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
- Threefork Bridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Threefork Bridge is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Threefork Bridge
- Independence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Independence is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Arthurdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Reedsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Newburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Masontown
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Tunnelton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Heathers Run
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Heathers Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathers Run
- Kingwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rockville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rockville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Albright
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Oreide
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Oreide is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oreide
- Pruntytown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pruntytown is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruntytown
- Fetterman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- Grafton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- West Grafton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Webster
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Webster is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Thornton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Brydon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Brydon is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
- Yates ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Yates is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Knottsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- Flemington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Flemington is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Stone House ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stone House is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
- Wetzel County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Hundred
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Round Bottom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Round Bottom is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Anthem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Anthem is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthem
- Kodol
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Kodol is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kodol
- Smithfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Littleton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Littleton is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleton
- Fallen Timber ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Fallen Timber is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallen Timber
- Uniontown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Uniontown is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uniontown
- Bane
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bane is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bane
- Barker
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Barker is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker
- Pine Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ross
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ross is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Fayette County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Fairchance
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Point Marion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Winstead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Winstead is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstead
- Atlantic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Atlantic is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlantic
- Morris Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Morris Crossroads is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Crossroads
- New Geneva
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Geneva is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Geneva
- Fayette
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fayette is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
- Masontown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Smithfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Woodside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Woodside is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
- Haydentown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Haydentown is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydentown
- Adah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Adah is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adah
- Greene County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Mount Morris
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dunkard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dunkard is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkard
- Jollytown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jollytown is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jollytown
- Spraggs
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Spraggs is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spraggs
- Dilliner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dilliner is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilliner
- Gump
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gump is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gump
- Kirby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Kirby is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Ashtree
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashtree is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashtree
- Greensboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- New Freeport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Freeport is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Freeport
- Fordyce
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Fordyce is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyce
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dakota, see our County-by-County Page for Dakota.
Cemeteries Near Dakota ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dakota.
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 Dakota - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dakota covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Pitcher Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Barrackville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Snoderly Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Fairmont City Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hawkinberry Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Meadowdale Wesleyan Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prickett Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Continue List (546 more) ...
- Ministers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
While we didn't find Dakota in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dakota.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dakota, with the one closest to Dakota listed first.
- Hoult
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hoult is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoult
- Barrackville
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Barrackville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrackville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,270 people
- Montana
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Montana is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montana
- Rivesville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Fairmont
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Palatine
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Palatine is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palatine
- Watson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Watson is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Gaston Junction
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Gaston Junction is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaston Junction
- Canton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Canton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Mount Harmony
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Harmony is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Harmony
- Catawba
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Catawba is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catawba
- Hoodsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hoodsville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodsville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Gaston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gaston is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaston
- Monongah
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bentons Ferry
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bentons Ferry is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentons Ferry
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dakota. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dakota.
Newspapers Published in Dakota ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dakota.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dakota, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dakota.
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 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 Dakota:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Marion County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Doddridge County
- Harrison County
- Marshall County
- Monongalia County
- Preston County
- Taylor County
- Wetzel County
- Fayette County
- Greene 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 Dakota, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Dakota) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |