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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 Deer Creek (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 Deer Creek. 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 Deer Creek ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Deer Creek: Deer Crk. (or less commonly used: Deer Ck. or Deer Cr.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Deer Creek. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Deer Creek.

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 southeast 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 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.

Deer Creek is located in Pocahontas 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 Pocahontas County: Bath (VA), Highland (VA), Greenbrier, Pendleton, Randolph & Webster.

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

  • Pocahontas County     (The home county of Deer Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deer Creek, with the one closest to Deer Creek listed first.
    • Cass
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Sitlington
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
    • Green Bank
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Arbovale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Frost
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Frost is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
    • Edray
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Edray is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
    • Thorny Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
    • Slaty Fork
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Durbin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Frank
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Frank is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
    • Onoto
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
    • Huntersville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Pendleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deer Creek, with the one closest to Deer Creek listed first.
    • Harper
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Harper is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
    • Dry Run
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Dry Run is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
    • Circleville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deer Creek, with the one closest to Deer Creek listed first.
    • Mingo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Valley Head
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Blue Spring
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
    • Monterville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkwater
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Elkwater is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
    • Lee Bell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
    • Huttonsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Mill Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
    • Florence ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Florence is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
    • Pickens
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Huff ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Huff is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
    • Helvetia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Upshur County
    • Goshen
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Goshen is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deer Creek, with the one closest to Deer Creek listed first.
    • Ralph
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Ralph is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
    • Addison
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Addison is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
    • Excelsior
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Excelsior is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
    • Orndoff
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Orndoff is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
    • Hacker Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Bath County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deer Creek, with the one closest to Deer Creek listed first.
    • Bolar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bolar is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
    • Mountain Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Mountain Grove is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
    • Burnsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Burnsville is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
    • Cowardin ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Cowardin is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
    • Warm Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Fort Lewis is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
    • Bath Alum
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bath Alum is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
    • Mitchelltown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Mitchelltown is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
    • Greenwood ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Greenwood is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Healing Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Healing Springs is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
  • Highland County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Deer Creek, with the one closest to Deer Creek listed first.
    • Buckeye ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Buckeye is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
    • Meadowdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Meadowdale is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
    • Hightown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Hightown is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
    • Monterey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Clover Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Clover Creek is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
    • Possum Trot
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Possum Trot is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
    • McDowell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Palo Alto
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Palo Alto is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto

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

Cemeteries Near Deer Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Deer Creek.

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 Deer Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hilltop Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Baxter Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Wanless Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lindsay Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bussard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Buzzard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Shinaberry Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Buzzard Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Dilly Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Gragg Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Arbovale Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (63 more) ...
    • Bethel Church Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Varner Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Bethel Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<3>

While we didn't find Deer Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Deer Creek.

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

  • Dunmore
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Clover Lick
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Clover Lick is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Lick
  • Green Bank
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Dilleys Mill
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Dilleys Mill is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilleys Mill
  • Frost
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Frost is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
  • Edray
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Edray is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
  • Buckeye ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Buckeye is located in Highland County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
  • Sunset ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Sunset is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
  • Mill Gap
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Mill Gap is located in Highland County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Gap
  • Valley Head
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Marlinton
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Huntersville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Sunrise
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunrise is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise
    • Meadowdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Meadowdale is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
    • Blue Spring
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring

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

Newspapers Published in Deer Creek ...

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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Deer Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Deer Creek, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Deer Creek.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Deer Creek:

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 Deer Creek, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Deer Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.