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 Diana (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 Diana. 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 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.
Diana is located in Webster 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 Webster County: Braxton, Greenbrier, Lewis, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph & Upshur.
Below are the counties that are near Diana. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Diana:
- Webster County (The home county of Diana)
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Big Run
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Orndoff
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Hacker Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Addison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Replete
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Excelsior
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Ralph
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Erbacon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Halo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Cleveland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Upperglade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Cowen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Palmer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Palmer is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Milroy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Corley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Little Birch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Little Birch is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Birch
- Falls Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
- Flatwoods
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- McNutt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- McNutt is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Sutton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bulltown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Heaters
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Napier
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Canfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Wattsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Wattsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Widen
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Widen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
- Harrison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Ira
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Gilmer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Cedarville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cedarville is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Stouts Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Sand Fork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sand Fork is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Fork
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Truebada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Truebada is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truebada
- Shock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shock is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shock
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Duffy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Crawford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Alkires Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Garton Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Tioga
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Birch River
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Craigsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Richwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Muddlety
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Donald
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Saxman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Nettie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tolbert
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tolbert is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolbert
- Odell Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Odell Town is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell Town
- Odell Town has also been known as:
- Odell
- Summersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Slaty Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Edray
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Onoto
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Florence ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Pickens
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Helvetia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Spring
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Monterville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mingo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Valley Head
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Elkwater
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Elkwater is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
- Lee Bell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
- Huttonsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cassity
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Huff ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Goshen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Kanawha Head
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Wilsontown
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Rock Cave
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Alexander
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Frenchton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Alton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Hoover Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hoover Town is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
- Beans Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Adrian
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Abbott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Abbott is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Diana, see our County-by-County Page for Diana.
Cemeteries Near Diana ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Diana.
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 Diana - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Diana covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Holly River Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Columbus McCourt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Green Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Big Run Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Clifton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cutlip Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- McCourt - Cogar Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Adam Miller Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hodam Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Centralia Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (210 more) ...
- Lynch Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Laurel Fork Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sunset Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Diana had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Diana, with the one closest to Diana listed first.
- Jumbo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jumbo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Hacker Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pugh
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pugh is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pugh
- Addison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Bernardstown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bernardstown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernardstown
- Ralph
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Woodzell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Woodzell is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodzell
- Replete
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Bakers Run
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bakers Run is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakers Run
- Halo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Milroy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Bergoo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bergoo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergoo
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Caress
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Caress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caress
- Newville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Newville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Boggs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Boggs is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggs
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Diana. See our List of 1890's Communities around Diana.
Newspapers Published in Diana ...
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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Diana.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Diana, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Diana.
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 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 Diana:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Webster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Clay County
- Gilmer County
- Lewis County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Randolph County
- Upshur 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 Diana, 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- Diana) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |